Chapter 23, Problem 11TYK

In a random sample of a population of shorthorn cattle, 73 animals were red (C^RC^R); 63 were roan, a mixture of red and white (C^RC^r); and 13 were white (C^rC^r). Estimate the allele frequencies of C^R and C^r, and explain whether or not the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

1. a. C^R = 0.64, C^r = 0.36; because the population is large and a random sample was chosen, the population is in equilibrium.
2. b. C^R = 0.7, C^r = 0.3; the genotype ratio is not what would be predicted from these frequencies, and the population is not in equilibrium.
3. c. C^R = 0.7, C^r = 0.3; the genotype ratio is close to what would be predicted from these frequencies, and the population is in equilibrium.
4. d. C^R = 1.04, C^r = 0.44; the allele frequencies add up to greater than 1, and the population is not in equilibrium.