In: Biology
In a population of 16,000 people, 67 are affected with a mild autosomal recessive condition. What is the estimated number of carriers for this condition in this population?
To calculate the estmated number of carriers in the population we have to apply The Hardy- Weinberg equation which is as-
p2 +q2 +2pq=1
where p is the frequency of dominant allele -
q is the frequency of recessive allele -
p2 represents homozygous dominant genotype (autosomal dominant)
q2 represents homozygous recessive genotype - (autosomal recessive)
2 pq represents hetrozygous genotype (carrierof the disease)
As per question we have to calculate the population of the carriers
total number of population is 16000
recessive allele q = 67
q = f(recessive allele)= No of total recessive allele/ Total population
q2 = 67/16000 = 0.0041
The square root of q2 is 0.064
So q = 0.064
p+q =1
p+ 0.064 =1
p = 1- 0.064
p= 0.936
The square of p2 is 0.876
The heterozygous (carrier) population is 2pq
p= 0.936
q= 0.064
2pq= 2* 0.936 * 0.064 = 0.119
So the estimated number of carriers is = 0.119 * 16000 = 1917 approximately