QQuestionBiology
QuestionBiology
q^6.8 imagine a population evolving by genetic drift, in which the frequency of the allele K is 0.1. What is the probability that at some point in the future allele K will drift to a frequency of 1.0? Express your answer as a number between 0 and 1.
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Step 1:Let's solve this population genetics problem step by step:
Step 2:: Understand the Problem
- We have an allele K with an initial frequency of 0.1 - We want to find the probability that this allele will eventually reach a frequency of 1.0 (fixation) - This is a classic problem of genetic drift in population genetics
Step 3:: Identify the Relevant Formula
For an allele with frequency $$p$$, the probability of fixation is $$p$$.
The probability of fixation for an allele is given by its initial frequency.
Step 4:: Calculate the Probability
- Initial allele frequency $$p = 0.1
- Probability of fixation = 0.1
Step 5:: Verify the Calculation
- This result comes from the Wright-Fisher model of genetic drift - It means there's a 10% chance the allele will eventually become fixed in the population
Final Answer
Key Insights: - This probability is independent of population size - Most alleles will eventually be lost, but a small fraction will become fixed - The probability of fixation equals the initial allele frequency
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