Albinism, an autosomal recessive trait characterized by an absence of skin pigmentation, is found in 1 in 4000 people in populations at equilibrium. Brachydactyly, an autosomal dominant trait producing shortened fingers and toes, is found in 1 in 6000 people in populations at equilibrium. For each of these traits, calculate the frequency of heterozygotes in the population

Key Concepts

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

The Hardy-Weinberg Principle provides a mathematical framework for understanding genetic variation in a population at equilibrium. It states that allele and genotype frequencies will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences. This principle is essential for calculating the frequencies of genotypes, including heterozygotes, based on known allele frequencies.

Autosomal Recessive and Dominant Traits

Autosomal recessive traits, like albinism, require two copies of the recessive allele for expression, while individuals with one dominant allele (heterozygotes) do not express the trait. In contrast, autosomal dominant traits, such as brachydactyly, can be expressed with just one copy of the dominant allele. Understanding these inheritance patterns is crucial for calculating the frequency of heterozygotes in a population.

Allele Frequency Calculation

Allele frequency refers to how often a particular allele appears in a population. For recessive traits, the frequency of the recessive allele can be derived from the proportion of affected individuals, while for dominant traits, it can be calculated from the total number of affected individuals. These frequencies are then used to determine the expected number of heterozygotes using the Hardy-Weinberg equations.