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Hardy-Weinberg Law

The Hardy-Weinberg law, or Hardy-Weinberg principle or equilibrium (HWP or HWE) predicts that under stable conditions after a generation of random mating, genotype frequencies throughout a population at a specified gene locus become fixed at a specific equilibrium value. These values can be defined as a function of the allele frequency of the genotype. The entire principle is based on Mendelian genetics.

In a single locus with two alleles (A and a) that have allele frequencies of p and q, the frequency of genotype AA will be p2, frequency of genotype Aa will be p*q, and frequency of genotype aa will be q2. This is the foundation of population genetics. This follows the binomial expansion of (p + q)2, so more than two alleles would follow their respective binomial expansions:

(p + q + . . . n)

The assumptions for the equilibrium are that the population is idealized: infinite in size to eliminate genetic drift; sexually reproducing, randomly mating; and diploid. It should also have no selection, mutation, or migration. A large, randomly-mating, non-evolving population should follow the Hardy-Weinberg Law.

Web Resources On Hardy-Weinberg Law

The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Model

Book Resources On Hardy-Weinberg Law

Statistical inference concerning Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium by D. V Lindley
Genetics of Populations by Philip W. Hedrick

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