AP BIOLOGY

EVOLUTION

EVOLUTION OF A POPULATION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
True or false? Genetic equilibrium is a sign that evolution is occurring.
A
True
B
False
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Answer and Explanation: The correct answer is false. Under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium the recessive phenotypes are not eliminated as allele frequencies for a gene would remain consistent in each generation.

Detailed explanation-2: -Since evolution is a change in allele frequencies in a population over generations, a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is, by definition, not evolving.

Detailed explanation-3: -Genetic equilibrium is a condition where a gene pool is not changing in frequency across generations. This is because the evolutionary forces acting upon the allele are equal. As a result, the population does not evolve even after several generations.

Detailed explanation-4: -Genetic equilibrium is the condition of an allele or genotype in a gene pool (such as a population) where the frequency does not change from generation to generation. Genetic equilibrium describes a theoretical state that is the basis for determining whether and in what ways populations may deviate from it.

Detailed explanation-5: -Genetic equilibrium occurs when there is no evolution within the population. At genetic equilibrium, the gene or allele frequencies are stable-they do not change. As mutations and natural selection occur frequently in nature, it is difficult for a population to be at genetic equilibrium in nature.

There is 1 question to complete.