In a certain population of mice, a single gene controls fur color. There are two possible alleles: B, which leads to a black fur, and W, which leads to white fur. Individuals with the genotype BB will have a black fur, individuals with the genotype WW will have white fur, and individuals with the genotype BW will have gray fur. Scientists recorded the fur color of 1,000 mice from the population. They found that 200 mice have black fur, 400 have gray fur, and 400 have white fur. Ten years later, the measurements are repeated. Again, they recorded the fur color of 1,000 mice. They found that 400 have black fur, 400 have gray fur, and 200 have white fur. Part A: Show the Hardy-Weinberg calculations for the beginning and ending populations. Include the values for the equation as well as the p and q values. Show your work. Part B: Use the Hardy-Weinberg calculation to explain if this population is evolving or not. Then propose a hypothesis about the environment of these mice that would lead to these observations
Genetic Variation
Genetic variation refers to the variation in the genome sequences between individual organisms of a species. Individual differences or population differences can both be referred to as genetic variations. It is primarily caused by mutation, but other factors such as genetic drift and sexual reproduction also play a major role.
Quantitative Genetics
Quantitative genetics is the part of genetics that deals with the continuous trait, where the expression of various genes influences the phenotypes. Thus genes are expressed together to produce a trait with continuous variability. This is unlike the classical traits or qualitative traits, where each trait is controlled by the expression of a single or very few genes to produce a discontinuous variation.
In a certain population of mice, a single gene controls fur color. There are two possible alleles: B, which leads to a black fur, and W, which leads to white fur. Individuals with the genotype BB will have a black fur, individuals with the genotype WW will have white fur, and individuals with the genotype BW will have gray fur. Scientists recorded the fur color of 1,000 mice from the population. They found that 200 mice have black fur, 400 have gray fur, and 400 have white fur. Ten years later, the measurements are repeated. Again, they recorded the fur color of 1,000 mice. They found that 400 have black fur, 400 have gray fur, and 200 have white fur.
Part A: Show the Hardy-Weinberg calculations for the beginning and ending populations. Include the values for the equation as well as the p and q values. Show your work.
Part B: Use the Hardy-Weinberg calculation to explain if this population is evolving or not. Then propose a hypothesis about the environment of these mice that would lead to these observations.
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