LABORATORY 8. POPULATION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION

OVERVIEW

In this activity, you will learn about the Hardy-Weinberg law of genetic equilibrium and study the relationship between evolution and changes in allele frequency by using your class as a sample population.

OBJECTIVES

Section A: Before doing this laboratory you should understand:

how natural selection can alter allelic frequencies in a population
the Hardy-Weinberg equation and its use in determining the frequency of alleles in a population
the effects on the allelic frequencies of selection against the homozygous recessive or other genotypes

Section B: After doing this laboratory you should be able to:

calculate the frequencies of alleles and genotypes in the gene pool of a population using the Hardy-Weinberg formula
discuss natural selection and other causes of microevolution as deviations from the conditions required to maintain Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium

LAB GUIDE

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Lab 8- Population Genetics and Evolution