The distribution of the polar bear in the Arctic is highly intriguing. Spotting

Question

The distribution of the polar bear in the Arctic is highly intriguing. Spotting a polar bear is a rare even- and breathtaking, Imagine a group of scientists from The University of Wisconsin found that the frequency of the C nucleotide allele was q = 0.296 for the population of a territory in Alaska. This population consisted of 142 polar bears that were CC, 124 that were AC, and 212 were AA. Do these observations match what they should have expected if the population were at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? (Note: the allele Cis dominant over A). 1. This group of scientists also found that the occurrence of polar bears dropped off dramatically closer to human villages. Say they counted 97 polar bears 100 kilometers from the smallest village and found the frequency of the A allele to be 0.12. Calculate the expected phenotype frequencies for this population. (Note: the allele A is recessive from 2. In a population of 100 offspring, how many individuals would you predict will have the red phenotype if the frequen of the recessive, white allele in the parent generation is 0.45? Note: red has complete dominance over white) 3.

Explanation / Answer

1. Given that the frequency of the C-nucleotide allele was q=0.296.

CC=142; AC=124; AA=212

Total no.of individuals = 478.

The frequency of C allele in the population is,

since CC=p2 = (142 / 478) = 0.297 and then p, the frequency of C allele is the square root of 0.297 which is equal to 0.545. We know that p + q =1 and hence q= 1- 0.545= 0.455.

2. Given that the frequency of the A allele to be 0.12 i.e., q= 0.12 and p= 1-0.12= 0.88.

Since the total no.of polar bears= 97,

The expected phenotype frequencies for this population is,

C phenotype frequency = 0.88 x 97 = 85.36 ~ 85 approximately

A phenotype frequency = 0.12 x 97 = 11.64 ~ 12 (approximately).

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