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In a different population, suppose that 38.40% of people are blood type A, and 4

ID: 68383 • Letter: I

Question

In a different population, suppose that 38.40% of people are blood type A, and 46.24% are blood type O.

Assuming this population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, what percentage of the population is blood type B? What percentage is blood type AB? Enter your answers to two decimal places.

(Hint:If a gene has three alleles, then six genotypes are predicted by applying the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium equation. In the case of ABO blood groups, four phenotypes are possible: A, B, AB, and O.To determine the frequency of each phenotype, let p designate the frequency of allele IA, let q designate the frequency of allele IB, and let r designate the frequency of allele i.

The A phenotype is composed of genotypes IAIAand IAi. Thus, the frequency of individuals with phenotype A will be p 2 + 2pr.

The B phenotype is composed of genotypes IBIBand IBi. Thus, the frequency of individuals with phenotype B will be q 2 + 2qr.

The AB phenotype is determined by one genotype: IAIB. Thus, the frequency of individuals with phenotype AB will be 2pq.

The O phenotype is determined by one genotype: ii. Thus, the frequency of individuals with phenotype O will be r 2.)

Explanation / Answer

From the question:

Let us consider

p be the frequency of A

q be the frequency of B   and,

r be the frequency of O.

So we basically have a three allele system which could be denoted as :

p + q + r = 1

Therefore Hardy-Weinberg equation in this case would be:

(p + q + r)2 = 1

p2 +q2 + r2 + 2pq +2qr + 2pr = 1

Frequency of A = p2 + 2pr

Frequency of B = q2 + 2qr

Frequency of O = r2

Frequency of AB = 2pq

From question, we know that people with O blood type are 46.24

That is r2 = .4624   therefore r = 0.68

People having blood type A = 38.40

Therefore p2 + 2pr = .3840

p2 + 2p* (0.68) = .3840 (solving this quadratic equation we get,)

p = .24

So, p + q + r = 1

.24 + q + .68 = 1

q = 0.08

So people with blood group B = q2 + 2qr = (0.08)2 + 2*(0.08)*(0.68) = .1152

So % of population with blood group B = 11.52%

Similarly,

So people with blood group AB = 2pq = 2*(.24)*(0.08) = .0324

So % of population with blood group AB = 3.24%