In a study of lizards found on the white sand dunes in Monahans State Park, Texa

Question

In a study of lizards found on the white sand dunes in Monahans State Park, Texas, you have discovered that the white body color seen in 16% of lizards found in this habitat is due to a recessive mutation (w) in the melanocortin-1 receptor. These light-colored individuals match the surrounding sand dune color and are eaten less frequently by hawks. In this lizard population, 40% of dark-colored, homozygous dominant lizards and 20% of medium-colored, heterozygous lizards are eaten by hawks. If you start with a population of 100 juvenile lizards, 16 homozygous recessive (ww), 48 heterozygotes (Ww), and 36 homozygous dominant (WW), what will be the frequency of the w allele in the next generation? In your calculations round to the nearest whole lizard individual.

the answer is 0.46. can u help explain how it is 0.46?

In a study of lizards found on the white sand dunes in Monahans State Park, Texas, you have discovered that the white body color seen in 16% of lizards found in this habitat is due to a recessive mutation (w) in the melanocortin-1 receptor. These light-colored individuals match the surrounding sand dune color and are eaten less frequently by hawks. In this lizard population, 40% of dark-colored, homozygous dominant lizards and 20% of medium-colored, heterozygous lizards are eaten by hawks. If you start with a population of 100 juvenile lizards, 16 homozygous recessive (ww), 48 heterozygotes (Ww), and 36 homozygous dominant (WW), what will be the frequency of the w allele in the next generation? In your calculations round to the nearest whole lizard individual.

the answer is 0.46. can u help explain how it is 0.46?

Explanation / Answer

You start with 100 juvenile lizards.

36 were 'WW'; 48 were 'Ww'; and 16 were 'ww'.

Initial allele frequency of 'w' allele = 0.16 + (1/2*0.48) = 0.40 = q

p = (1-q) =(1-0.4) =0.6

You have to calculate allele frequency in the next generation.

In the next generation, allele frequency of 'w' will be determined by first calculating the fitness of each genotype.

Genotype frequency = Initial genotype frequency * fitness.

16% of population is 'ww'; 40% is 'WW' and 20% is 'Ww'. This is the survival rate of the population.

Fitness = Survival rate / Highest survival rate.

In the given question, please note that highest survival rate = 16%; because these 16% lizards are not eaten by the predators.

In the next generation, number of offsprings with 'ww' = q^2 = 0.40*0.40 * (16/16) = 0.16

In the next generation, number of offsprings with 'Ww' = 2pq = 2*0.60*0.40 * (20/16) = 0.6

So, new allele frequency of 'w' allele = 0.16 + (1/2*0.6) = 0.46

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse I
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.