a certan population of mice, a single gene controls fur color. There are two possible alleles. B, which leads to a black fur and W. which leads to white fur individuals with the genotype BB will have a black fur individuals with the genotype WW will have white fur, and individuals with the genotype BW will have gray fur Scientists recorded the fur color of 1,000 mice from the population. They found that 200 mice have black fur, 400 have gray fur and 400 have white fur. Ten years later, the measurements are repeated Again, they recorded the fur color of 1,000 mice They found that 400 have black fur 400 have gray fur and 200 have white fur

Question

a certan population of mice, a single gene controls fur color. There are two possible alleles. B, which leads to a black fur and W. which leads to white fur individuals with the genotype BB will have a black fur individuals with the genotype WW will have white fur, and individuals with the genotype BW will have gray fur Scientists recorded the fur color of 1,000 mice from the population. They found that 200 mice have black fur, 400 have gray fur and 400 have white fur. Ten years later, the measurements are repeated Again, they recorded the fur color of 1,000 mice They found that 400 have black fur 400 have gray fur and 200 have white fur

Part A Show the Hardy Weinberg calculations for the beginning and ending populations Include the values for the equation as well as the p and q values. Show your work

Part B. Use the Hardy-Weinberg calculation to explain if this population is evolving or not. The propose a hypothesis about the environment of these mice that would lead to these observations

Answer 1

Part A:

Beginning population:
- Total mice = 1,000
- Black fur (BB) = 200
- Gray fur (BW) = 400
- White fur (WW) = 400

Calculating allele frequencies:
- Calculate the allele frequency for B: (2*200 + 400) / (2*1000) = 0.4
- Calculate the allele frequency for W: (2*400 + 400) / (2*1000) = 0.6

Calculating genotype frequencies:
- Calculate the genotype frequency for BB: 0.4 * 0.4 = 0.16
- Calculate the genotype frequency for BW: 2 * 0.4 * 0.6 = 0.48
- Calculate the genotype frequency for WW: 0.6 * 0.6 = 0.36

Ending population:
- Total mice = 1,000
- Black fur = 400
- Gray fur = 400
- White fur = 200

Calculating allele frequencies:
- Calculate the allele frequency for B: (2*400 + 400) / (2*1000) = 0.6
- Calculate the allele frequency for W: (2*200 + 400) / (2*1000) = 0.4

Calculating genotype frequencies:
- Calculate the genotype frequency for BB: 0.6 * 0.6 = 0.36
- Calculate the genotype frequency for BW: 2 * 0.6 * 0.4 = 0.48
- Calculate the genotype frequency for WW: 0.4 * 0.4 = 0.16

Part B:
Based on the Hardy-Weinberg calculations, the allele frequencies for the gene controlling fur color have changed in the population over the ten years. The frequency of the B allele increased from 0.4 to 0.6, while the frequency of the W allele decreased from 0.6 to 0.4. This suggests that the population is evolving as the allele frequencies are changing.

One hypothesis about the environment of these mice that could lead to these observations is that there has been a change in predator selection pressure. If black fur provides better camouflage in the environment or offers some other advantage in avoiding predation, then individuals with the BB genotype would have a higher fitness and be more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, this would lead to an increase in the frequency of the B allele in the population.