A locus that affects susceptibility to a degenerative brain disease has two alleles, V and v. In a population, 16 people have genotype VV, 92 have genotype Vv, and 12 have genotype vv. Is this population evolving? Explain.

Yes, the population is evolving

Explanation:

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium states that a population is not evolving if it is in hardy weinberg equilibrium as the alleles frequency do not change over time in generations.

In mathematical equation, the genotype frequency will be -P²+2Pq+q²=1 and allele frequency will be p+q=1, where p = dominant allele and q will be recessive allele.

In the question, since the observed genotype are-

P² - VV= 16

2Pq- Vv- 92

q²- vv- 12

1. Calculate allele frequency

Now we will calculate if the expected value is same or close or not.

We will calculate allele frequency

Population has 120 individuals which means it has - 240 alleles.

In which V (p) will be- 32 +92= 124 allele

p- dominant allele/ total allele=  124/ 240 = 0.52

P= 0.52

q will be 1-0.52= 0.48

2. Expected genotype frequency

Now we will calculate expected genotypic frequency.

P²- 0.52 X 0.52= 0.27

2Pq = 2 x 0.52x 0.48 =  0.5

q²= 0.48 x 0.48 =  0.23

3. Expected progeny

P²= 0.27 x 120= 32 VV

2Pq= 0.5 X 120= 60 Vv

q²= 0.23 x 120= 28 vv

Since the observed value is not equal to the expected value therefore the population is not in Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium and the population is evolving.

Thus, Yes, the population is evolving is correct.