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Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Diploid organisms have two alleles of each gene, one from each parent, in their somatic cells. Therefore, each individual contributes two alleles to the gene pool of the population. The gene pool of a population is the sum of every allele of all genes within that population and has some degree of variation. Genetic variation is typically expressed as a relative frequency, which is the percentage of the total population that has a given allele, genotype or phenotype.

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In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Inter-allelic interactions play a major role in microsatellite evolution.

William Amos¹, Danica Kosanović², Anders Eriksson²

¹Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK w.amos@zoo.cam.ac.uk.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|October 30, 2015

Summary

Microsatellite mutations, often involving single repeat gains or losses, depend on allele length. Interactions between homologous alleles in heterozygotes, not independent mutation, explain these mutation patterns.

Keywords:

allelic interactions heterozygote instability microsatellite mutation mutation bias short tandem repeat

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Area of Science:

Genetics
Molecular Biology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Microsatellites are repetitive DNA sequences prone to mutations.
Previous studies suggested simple gain/loss of repeats as the primary mutation mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the factors influencing microsatellite mutation rates and biases.
To determine if independent mutation models adequately explain observed microsatellite evolution patterns.

Main Methods:

Analysis of microsatellite mutations in pedigrees.
Plotting mutation data on standardized scales based on allele length.
Developing and testing mutation models incorporating allele interactions.

Main Results:

Microsatellite mutation rate and bias are strongly dependent on allele length relative to other alleles at the same locus.
Independent mutation models fail to explain these length-dependent patterns.
Interactions between homologous alleles in heterozygous individuals are crucial for explaining mutation dynamics, with longer alleles potentially being more mutable or prone to contraction.

Conclusions:

Microsatellite evolution is influenced by inter-allelic interactions, challenging simple mutation models.
Allele length and interactions between homologous chromosomes play a significant role in microsatellite mutation processes.
These findings suggest a link between population history and the rate and pattern of microsatellite evolution.