Question

In a certain population of birds, 16 percent of the population have grey feathers and 84 percent have red feathers. If grey feathers is a recessive trait, what percentage of the population is heterozygous for this trait?

a. 20%
b. 32%
c. 48%
d. 64%

Answer 1

If grey feathers is a recessive trait, then 72.8% of the population is heterozygous for this trait.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept used here is of Hardy Weinberg principle,
`p^(2) + q^(2)` +2pq =1

The homozygous dominant genotypeis represented as
`p^(2)` = 84

Red = dominant

The homozygous recessive genotype trait is represented as
`q^(2)` = 16

grey = recessive

2pq = heterozygous individual

Thus for dominant homozygous the alleles are given as

p=
`√(84)`

= 9.1

q =
`√(16)`

= 4

for heterozygous individual 2pq

2 x 9.1 x 4

= 72.8

72.8% population is heterozygous for the trait.