Understanding Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium helps us understand how traits are passed down in populations. It shows us what happens to gene types if certain conditions are met. Let’s break it down:

1. Conditions Needed:

• The population must be large.
• There can't be any changes in the genes (no mutations).
• No new members can enter or leave the group (no migration).
• Mating has to be random.
• There should be no natural selection (no trait being favored over another).

2. How It Works:

When a population meets these conditions, the types of genes (called alleles) and the traits they create (called genotypes) stay the same over time.

For example, if we call one allele "A" and another "a," we can use these letters to calculate how often different gene combinations show up:

• The combination "AA" can be found using the formula: (p^2)
• The combination "Aa" can be found using the formula: (2pq)
• The combination "aa" can be found using the formula: (q^2)

By using these calculations, scientists can see if something has changed. If they find differences from what they expect, it might mean evolution is happening!