Which of the following best describes a population at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

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Prepare for the ASU BIO182 General Biology II Exam 2 with curated quizzes and detailed explanations. Boost your understanding of key concepts and hone critical thinking skills with practical examples.

In a population at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the key characteristic is that allele frequencies remain constant from generation to generation, meaning there is no evolutionary change taking place. This stability allows for the prediction of genotype frequencies from the known allele frequencies using the Hardy-Weinberg equation (p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where p and q represent the frequencies of the two alleles).

When a population is in equilibrium, it is under specific conditions: no mutations, random mating, no gene flow, infinite population size, and no selective advantage for any genotype. Under these conditions, the proportions of different genotypes can be accurately calculated based on allele frequencies, showing that genotype frequencies can be predicted reliably.

Thus, the fact that genotype frequencies can be predicted from the allele frequencies is a central feature of a population at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, highlighting stability and predictability in genetic makeup.

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