BRAINCAKEConditions of the Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium
The Hardy-Weinberg principle only predicts constant allele frequencies if certain conditions are met. These are the assumptions of the model:
• Large population: so that chance events (genetic drift) do not change allele frequencies.
• Random mating: every individual is equally likely to mate with any other, whatever its genotype.
• No mutation: no new alleles are created and existing alleles are not changed.
• No migration: no individuals, and so no alleles, move into or out of the population (no gene flow).
• No natural selection: all genotypes are equally likely to survive and reproduce.
The Hardy-Weinberg equations also assume the organism is diploid, reproduces sexually and has non-overlapping generations.
Sign in free to see the rest of this lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz
BrainCake is free. Make an account in seconds and pick up where this page stops.
Key terms in this lesson
- allele frequency
- The proportion of all the alleles of a gene in a population that are a particular allele.
More in Gene Pools
- Population Genetics
- Allele Frequency
- Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium
- Hardy Weinberg Equation
- Mutations
- Non-Random Mating
- Different Sized Populations
- Isolation
All 16 lessons in Gene Pools · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics