The figure below shows the average heterozygosity of over 8,000 individuals meas

Question

The figure below shows the average heterozygosity of over 8,000 individuals measured across 50,000 loci. The middle line shows the average heterozygosity of the population (0.374) and the two outer lines show individuals that are plus or minus three standard deviations from the mean. These are individuals are outliers that have significantly more or less heterozygosity in relation to the rest of the population you would expect to see around 10 individuals and there are over 180. a. What is average heterozygosity and how is it calculated? b. Discuss the importance of average heterozygosity c. What is the difference between average polymorphism and average heterozygosity? Which one is a better measure of variability? d. Taking into account your knowledge of population genetics, discuss a viable explanation for the existence of individuals with high and low heterozygosity.

Explanation / Answer

1. Average heterozygosity can be defined as a genetic variability measure for a population, that measures the the average of the proportion of organisms which are heterozygous for a particular loci of gene. The average heterozygosity is measured by the Fst, where the allelic frequencies for each sub population is measured followed by average allelic frequency of the total population and the 2pq or the heterozygosity of each sub population. The average of these heterozygosities will give the average of heterozygosity.

2. It is important to measure the average heterozygosities within a species so as to identify the populations that are at risk in the form of showing low heterozygosity so as to conserve or preserve them. It also denotes the genetic potential of a species and a measure of the genetic variation that exists within a species.

3. Average polymorphisms are the measure of the genetic variation in a population which can further lead to natural selection. A better measure of variability in a population would be the measure of average polymorphisms.

4. Low heterozygosity is observed in individuals as a result of an evolutionary phenomenon, such as the bottleneck phenomena, that may result in the extinction or vulnerability of an organismic species. High heterozygosity is due to a high amount of genetic variability within a species, indicating a higher number of the individuals within the same species. High heterozygosity also denotes natural selection occurring for a long term within a species and the increased adaptations.

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