If a homozygous dominant genotype is 46% what is the dominant allele frequency?

1 Answer
Maxwell · Mandira P.
Mar 25, 2017

Well, let's check.

Explanation:

Assuming Hardy-Weinberg conditions are met, we will use the #"Hardy-Weinberg equation"# which is:

#p^2+2pq+q^2=1#

Where:
#p^2 = "frequency of homozygous dominant genotype"#
#2pq = "frequency of heterozygous genotype"#
#q^2 = "frequency of homozygous recessive genotype"#

If a homozygous dominant genotype is #46%#, that means #p^2 = 0.46#

Using #p+q = 1# where:

#p = "frequency of dominant allele"#
#q = "frequency of recessive allele"#

we will find the frequency of the dominant allele, meaning we will solve for #p#.

If we have #p^2# and we need to find #p#, then using basic algebra:

#p^2 = 0.46#
#sqrt(p^2) = sqrt0.46#
#p = 0.68#

the dominant allele frequency turns out to be 0.68 or 68%

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