In: Biology
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder in which phenylalanine accumulates in the body, resulting inbrain damage, intellectual disabilities, behavioral symptoms, or seizures. PKU affects approximately 1 in 12,000 people living in the United States. What is the frequency of heterozygous carriers of the PKU allele within the U.S. population? (Assume Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium)
Group of answer choices
1.80%
0.02%
99.99%
0.90%
0.01%
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
The Hardy-Weinberg principle, also known as the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, model, theorem, or law, states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of other evolutionary influences. These influences include - mate choice, mutation, selection, genetic drift, gene flow.
7 assumptions underlying Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is as follows,
To estimate the frequency of alleles in a population one must understand the basics of the Hardy-Weinberg equation:
p = the frequency of the dominant allele (represented here by
A)
q = the frequency of the recessive allele (represented here by
a)
For a population in genetic equilibrium: p2 + 2pq + q2= 1
p2= frequency of AA (homozygous dominant)
2pq= frequency of Aa (heterozygous)
q2= frequency of aa (homozygous recessive)
q2= 1/10,000
q =√ 1/10,00=1/100
p = 1 (does not change from "1" in most equations)
2pq = 2 (1) (1/100) = 1/50
1/50 individuals in the general population are carriers of PKU. So the answer is 0.02%.