Chapter 19, Problem 9QP

Using the Hardy–Weinberg Law in Human Genetics

Suppose you are monitoring the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the MN blood group locus (see Question 2 for a description of the MN blood group) in a small human population. You find that for 1-year-old children, the genotypic frequencies are MM = 0.25, MN = 0.5, and NN = 0.25, whereas the genotypic frequencies for adults are MM = 0.3, MN = 0.4, and NN = 0.3.

1. a. Compute the M and N allele frequencies for 1-year-olds and adults.
2. b. Are the allele frequencies in equilibrium in this population?
3. c. Are the genotypic frequencies in equilibrium?