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Module 8 Population Genetics

Lesson 4.8.3

Lesson 3—Hardy Weinberg Calculations

 

Get Focused


You may have heard of cystic fibrosis, which is a disease where the body produces abnormally thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and digestive system. Victims have chronic difficulty breathing, respiratory infections, and poor weight gain. CF is an autosomal recessive condition that occurs in 1 in 2500 Caucasian births. In the past, victims often did not live long enough to reproduce. With intensive therapy and medication, those with CF are now living long enough to have children and pass on the CF allele. Population geneticists are interested in what this means for the frequency of the CF allele in future populations.

 

Two scientists Wilhelm Hardy and Godfrey Weinberg, in addition to giving us the conditions for HW Equilibrium and the conditions for evolution, have also given us an equation that allows us to figure out allele frequencies and genotype frequencies quite easily. You will see how biologists can use this information to determine if populations are changing (adapting and evolving), and if so, help determine what factors are causing the changes.

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By the end of this lesson you should be able to answer the following focusing questions:

  • How can the Hardy Weinberg formula, graphs, and data be used to study changes in populations over time?
  • How do we analyze and interpret data, to make predictions and decisions about population management?
Module 8: Lesson 3 Assignment

  Once you have completed all of the learning activities in the lesson, you can complete the online assignment.

Bio30 4.8.3 online assignment

 

You should also watch the tutorial video for this lesson and submit a summary.  Bio30 tut# 4.8.3 hardy weinburg

In addition to your lesson work as listed below, any summary notes, sample calculations, diagrams, charts or tables should be stored in the course folder for your teacher’s feedback and study as you prepare for exams.

 

You must decide what to do with the questions that are not marked by the teacher. Remember that these questions provide you with the practice and feedback that you need to successfully complete this course. You should respond to all of the questions and place those answers in your course folder.