Genetics: pattern baldness calculation using Hardy-Weinberg
Not what you're looking for?
Pattern baldness in humans is controlled by a single autosomal locus with two alleles (B and B'), but pattern baldness is a sex-influenced phenotype: baldness is dominant in males (BB and BB' males become bald), but recessive in females (only BB females become bald). if a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for this locus and 4% of the women in the population become bald,
1) what percentage of the men are bald?
2) what percentage of the nonbald women could give a gene for baldness to their sons?
3) what percentage of all possible marriages are expected to produce daughters who develop baldness? (assume that the marriages are not influenced by the baldness of the individuals)
*please explain answers as simply as possible, thank you
Purchase this Solution
Solution Preview
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is mathematically expressed by the following:
p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1, where p + q = 1
p stands for one of the alleles and q stands for the other allele. For this question, let's assign B for p and B' for q.
That is to say that p^2 represents the frequency of BB, 2pq represents the frequency of BB' and q^2 represents the frequency of B'B'.
What do we know?
We know that 4% of women are bald (BB). Therefore, p^2 = 0.04, or if we take the square root, we get: p = 0.2.
Now, if p = 0.2, then q = 0.8 since p + q = 1.
Therefore, we can ...
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
The Plant Body
This quiz will test your knowledge of the anatomy of a common plant.
Feeding Babies
Do you know the science behind feeding babies? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
Understanding the Musculoskeletal system
Introduce and understand basic information how the skeletal system and muscular system work in close concert with one another. And how their interaction between muscle and bone, as they work together to allow us movement.
Biochemistry Basics
A refresher quiz to test your knowledge of basics concepts of biochemistry.
Light and Sight Vocabulary
This quiz introduces basic definitions of vocabulary related to light and how human eyes. This information is important for an understanding of sight.