Put all the candies used in Problems 41 back into a single mound and then divide them into two piles, being sure that the frequencies of each color are the same in each pile. Make a note of the starting frequency of each color. Label one pile 'male' and the other pile 'female.' When all selection rounds have been completed, combine the two piles and determine the frequency of each color.

Key Concepts

Genetic Frequencies

Genetic frequencies refer to the proportion of different alleles or phenotypes within a population. In this context, it is crucial to maintain the same frequencies of candy colors in both piles, representing male and female, to simulate genetic variation accurately. Understanding how these frequencies can change through selection is fundamental to population genetics.

Selection Pressure

Selection pressure is the environmental factor that influences which individuals in a population are more likely to survive and reproduce. In the context of the candy problem, it represents the conditions under which certain colors may be favored or disfavored, affecting their frequencies in subsequent generations. Recognizing how selection alters genetic frequencies is key to understanding evolutionary dynamics.

Mendelian Inheritance

Mendelian inheritance describes the patterns of inheritance for traits controlled by single genes, as established by Gregor Mendel. This concept is essential for understanding how traits (represented by candy colors) are passed from one generation to the next. In the context of the problem, it helps explain how the combination of male and female piles can lead to new frequencies of colors after selection rounds.