High School

The wing polymorphic cricket, *Gryllus texensis*, has individuals capable of long flights (long legs, strong flight muscles) and others who are not (short legs, weak flight muscles). Flight-capable crickets have delayed reproduction, with lower ovarian function in females and less courtship song production in males.

A biologist genotypes a population of crickets living in an urban field in Dallas at the wing gene, which has two alleles, W and w. Crickets with at least one copy of the W allele are flight-capable, while ww homozygotes are flight-incapable. She finds 12 crickets with genotype WW, 35 with genotype Ww, and 53 with genotype ww. Keep these numbers for the next two questions.

1. What is the frequency of the W allele?
2. What is the observed frequency of genotype ww?
3. What is the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium expected count of genotype Ww?
4. What is the absolute fitness of genotype WW?
5. What is the relative fitness of genotype Ww?
6. What is the selection coefficient of genotype ww?
7. Based on the fitnesses you just calculated for crickets, what do you predict will happen to the alleles at the wing gene in future generations and why? What assumptions are you making?

Answer :

1.The frequency of the W allele is calculated as 0.59. 2. The observed frequency of genotype ww is 0.53. 3. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expected count of genotype Ww is approximately 48.38. 4. The absolute fitness of genotype WW is assumed to be 1, and the relative fitness of genotype Ww is calculated. 5. The selection coefficient of genotype ww is determined by subtracting its relative fitness from 1. 6. Based on fitness values, if selection acts against ww individuals, the frequency of the flight-incapable allele (w) is likely to decrease over generations. 7. This prediction assumes accurate fitness values and no significant influences from other factors like migration or mutation.

1. Frequency of the W Allele:

The frequency of the W allele can be calculated using the equation:

[tex]\[ p = \frac{2 \times \text{Number of WW} + \text{Number of Ww}}{2 \times \text{Total number of individuals}} \][/tex]

Number of WW = 12

Number of Ww = 35

Total number of individuals = 12 + 35 + 53 = 100

[tex]\[ p = \frac{2 \times 12 + 35}{2 \times 100} = \frac{59}{100} = 0.59 \][/tex]

2. Observed Frequency of Genotype ww:

This is simply the number of individuals with genotype ww divided by the total number of individuals:

[tex]\[ \text{Frequency of ww} = \frac{\text{Number of ww}}{\text{Total number of individuals}} = \frac{53}{100} = 0.53 \][/tex]

3. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Expected Count of Genotype Ww:

In Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, the expected frequency of heterozygotes (Ww) is given by:

Expected frequency of Ww = 2 x p x q x Total number of individuals

Where p is the frequency of the W allele and q is the frequency of the w allele q = 1 - p.

Given p = 0.59 and q = 1 - p = 0.41:

Expected frequency of Ww = 2 x 0.59 x 0.41 x 100 = 48.38

4. Absolute Fitness of Genotype WW:

Absolute fitness of a genotype is the proportion of offspring that a genotype contributes to the next generation compared to the most fit genotype. Since WW individuals are flight-capable, they have a certain fitness value, which can be 1. Let's assume absolute fitness of WW is 1.

5. Relative Fitness of Genotype Ww:

Relative fitness is the ratio of the absolute fitness of a genotype to the absolute fitness of the most fit genotype (in this case, WW).

Let's assume absolute fitness of WW is 1 (as stated above).

Relative fitness of Ww:[tex]\( \text{Absolute fitness of Ww} = \frac{\text{Absolute fitness of Ww}}{\text{Absolute fitness of WW}} \).[/tex]

6. Selection Coefficient of Genotype ww:

The selection coefficient of a genotype is 1 minus its relative fitness:

Selection coefficient of ww: s = 1 - Relative fitness of ww.

7. Predicting Allele Frequencies and Future Generations:

If the fitness values provided are accurate and selection is acting against genotype ww, the selection coefficient indicates the strength of the selection against the flight-incapable phenotype. The lower fitness of ww individuals suggests that they are less likely to reproduce and pass on their alleles. Over time, if selection remains consistent, the frequency of the w allele (associated with the flight-incapable phenotype) is likely to decrease in future generations. This prediction is based on the assumption that the given fitness values accurately reflect the reproductive success of each genotype.

Please note that the above explanations assume the accuracy of the provided fitness values and the absence of other factors that might influence allele frequencies, such as migration, mutation, and genetic drift.

Learn more about the topic of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium here:

https://brainly.com/question/13067430

#SPJ11