Compute a population of 100 flowering plants contains 60 plants that are homozygous for orange flowers (oo), 30 plants that are heterozygous for orange flowers (oo), and 10 plants that are homozygous for white flowers (oo). determine the frequency of the o allele and the frequency of the o allele in this population. show your work.

The answer is; The frequency for allele O = 0.7746 while that of o = 0.2254

Well use the hardy Weinberg equation of a population at equilibrium; p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1

In our case, p2 will be 60/100 = 0.6; therefore p = square-root of 0.6 = 0.7746

Remember also that the frequencies of alleles of the same gene add up to one (1); i.e p + q = 1

Therefore q = 1 – 0.7746 = 0.2254