1. What is Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium?

The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is a principle stating that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Hardy-Weinberg equation:

Where:

• \( HW \) — Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium value (between 0 and 1)
• \( \text{Allele Freq} \) — Frequency of the allele in the population

Explanation: The equation calculates the allele frequency from the observed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium value.

3. Importance of Hardy-Weinberg Calculation

Details: This calculation is fundamental in population genetics for testing whether evolution is occurring, estimating allele frequencies, and predicting genotype frequencies.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium value (must be between 0 and 1). The calculator will compute the corresponding allele frequency.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What assumptions does Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium make?
A: It assumes no mutation, random mating, no gene flow, infinite population size, and no selection.

Q2: What does an HW value of 0.25 mean?
A: This would correspond to an allele frequency of 0.5 (√0.25 = 0.5).

Q3: When is Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium violated?
A: When any of its assumptions are violated (e.g., selection, mutation, non-random mating occurs).

Q4: Can this be used for multiple alleles?
A: This calculator is for a single diallelic locus. More complex calculations are needed for multiple alleles.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's mathematically precise, but biological systems often deviate from ideal Hardy-Weinberg conditions.