Which of the following factors can influence Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
(A) Natural Selection
(B) Genetic recombination
(C) Gene flow
(D) Mutation
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (B), (C), (D)
The Hardy-Weinberg principle says that allele frequencies in a population stay constant from generation to generation. This state is called genetic equilibrium. Any factor that changes the allele frequencies disturbs it, and such a change is evolution.
(A) Natural Selection Correct. Individuals with useful variations survive and leave more offspring. So their alleles become more common in the next generation.
(B) Genetic recombination Correct. Crossing over and the independent assortment of chromosomes during gamete formation produce new combinations of alleles. This variation changes what is passed on.
(C) Gene flow Correct. When individuals move from one population to another, alleles are added to the new population and lost from the old one. This movement is gene migration; repeated many times it is gene flow.
(D) Mutation Correct. A mutation is a change in the DNA. It creates new alleles and so changes the allele frequencies.
Note: The same question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 28-05-2025 (Slot 1), and a similar question in CUET (UG) 2025 on 22-05-2025 (Slot 2).
NCERT Extract:
Hardy-Weinberg Principle – …
