What is the Hardy-Weinberg equation?

The Hardy-Weinberg equation is: p2+2pq+q2=1

It is important to remember that p+q also equals 1.

p2 is the frequency of the homozygous dominant genotype, and q2 the recessive. 2pq is the frequency of the heterozygous genotype.

p and q are the allele frequencies of the dominant and recessive allele respectively.

Exam questions will give you one frequency (either an allele or geno/phenotype frequency) and using this you will have to work out the other values that go into the equation in order to provide the answer that the particular question is looking for.

MC

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Why is oxygen needed in respiration?


What is transcription?


It has been suggested that smoking, an epigenetic factor can lead to tumour growth and cancer. Use your knowledge of the epigenome and its structure to explain how this could occur. [5 marks]


What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?