Within a population of butterflies, the color brown (B) is dominant over the color white (b). And, 29% of all butterflies are white.
Calculate the frequency of homozygous dominant individuals.
a
25%
b
42%
c
22%
d
63%
Let's denote the frequency of the dominant allele (B) as p and the frequency of the recessive allele (b) as q.
Since brown (B) is dominant over white (b), the genotype frequencies can be denoted as follows:
- BB (homozygous dominant): p^2
- Bb (heterozygous): 2pq
- bb (homozygous recessive): q^2
Given that 29% of all butterflies are white (bb), q^2 = 0.29. This means that q = √0.29 ≈ 0.539.
Since brown (B) is dominant, p = 1 - q = 1 - 0.539 = 0.461.
Therefore, the frequency of homozygous dominant individuals (BB) can be calculated as p^2 = 0.461^2 ≈ 0.213 or 21.3%.
Therefore, the correct answer is c) 22%.