Which term is a situation in which allele frequencies remain constant?

Which term is a situation in which allele frequencies remain constant?

• A. Genetic drift
• B. Genetic equilibrium
• C. Biodiversity
• D. ATP

Answer: (B)

Allele frequencies stay the same from one generation to the next when a population isn’t influenced by evolutionary forces. This steady state is genetic equilibrium, described by the Hardy-Weinberg principle. In this situation, the allele frequencies p and q satisfy p + q = 1 and remain constant across generations, with genotype frequencies predicted as p^2, 2pq, and q^2. If mutation, migration, genetic drift, nonrandom mating, or natural selection occur, those frequencies can shift. The other terms aren’t about maintaining constant frequencies: genetic drift involves random changes, biodiversity refers to the variety of life, and ATP is the energy-currency molecule of cells.

Allele frequencies stay the same from one generation to the next when a population isn’t influenced by evolutionary forces. This steady state is genetic equilibrium, described by the Hardy-Weinberg principle. In this situation, the allele frequencies p and q satisfy p + q = 1 and remain constant across generations, with genotype frequencies predicted as p^2, 2pq, and q^2. If mutation, migration, genetic drift, nonrandom mating, or natural selection occur, those frequencies can shift. The other terms aren’t about maintaining constant frequencies: genetic drift involves random changes, biodiversity refers to the variety of life, and ATP is the energy-currency molecule of cells.