Which of the following statements are true with respect to the Hardy-Weinberg principle?
(A) Allele frequencies in a population are stable and are constant from generation to generation.
(B) The sum total of all the frequencies is equal to 1.
(C) Gene pool remains constant.
(D) Total genes and their alleles keep on changing in a given population.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (B) and (C) only
(A) Allele frequencies in a population are stable and are constant from generation to generation. Correct. This is the principle itself. It holds as long as no disturbing factor acts: gene migration, genetic drift, mutation, genetic recombination and natural selection.
(B) The sum total of all the frequencies is equal to 1. Correct. For a gene with two alleles A and a, with frequencies p and q, p + q = 1. The genotype frequencies add up to 1 too: \( p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1 \).
(C) Gene pool remains constant. Correct. The gene pool is all the genes and their alleles in a population. When it does not change, the population is in genetic equilibrium.
(D) Total genes and their alleles keep on changing in a given population. Incorrect. This is the opposite of (C). A change in the gene pool means the equilibrium has been disturbed, and such a change is evolution.
NCERT Extract:
Hardy-Weinberg Principle –
