Hardy weinberg problem - involving mortality rate

[anna sung]

Homework Statement

the frequency of the dark form (dominant) of mice is =.15 and the light form has 10% more mortality rate than the dark form mice. find the frequency of p and q for the next generation

Homework Equations

i am stuck here because i don't know the original number or i don't know the rate of
mortality in dark form hence i do not know how to get the frequency of the light form
could you please help?

The Attempt at a Solution

p=.15
p²=.15²
p²=0.0225
q²=(1-.15)²
=0.7225

 

[nate808]

q=0.85

First, let's define our variables:

p = frequency of the dark form (dominant)
q = frequency of the light form (recessive)
m = mortality rate of the light form mice

We know that the frequency of the dark form is 0.15, so p = 0.15.

Next, we need to find the frequency of the light form. We are given that the light form has a 10% higher mortality rate than the dark form. This means that for every 100 light form mice, 10 more will die than the dark form mice. So, the mortality rate for the light form mice is 0.10 higher than the mortality rate for the dark form mice. We can express this as:

m = 0.10 + m_dark

We also know that the total mortality rate (m) for both forms of mice must add up to 1, since all mice will eventually die. So, we can write the following equation:

m_dark + m_light = 1

Substituting in our equation for m from above, we get:

m_dark + (0.10 + m_dark) = 1

Solving for m_dark, we get m_dark = 0.45. This means that the mortality rate for the dark form mice is 0.45, and the mortality rate for the light form mice is 0.55 (0.10 higher).

Now, we can use the Hardy-Weinberg equation to find the frequency of the light form:

p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1

Substituting in our known values, we get:

0.152 + 2(0.15)(0.85) + q2 = 1

Solving for q, we get q = 0.65. This means that the frequency of the light form (q) for the next generation will be 0.65.

To find the frequency of the dark form for the next generation, we can use the equation p + q = 1. Substituting in our known values, we get:

p + 0.65 = 1

Solving for p, we get p = 0.35. This means that the frequency of the dark form (p) for the next generation will be 0.35.

So, the frequencies for the next generation are p = 0.35