In Hardy-Weinberg equation , the frequency of heterozygous individual is represented by

Options

A. (a) `p^(2)`
B. (b) 2 pq
C. (c) pq
D. (d) `q^(2)`

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understand the Hardy-Weinberg Principle**: The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.

2. **Identify the Assumptions**: There are five key assumptions for the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium:
- Random mating occurs within the population.
- There is no natural selection.
- The population is sufficiently large to prevent genetic drift.
- There is no gene flow (migration of individuals into or out of the population).
- There are no mutations affecting the alleles.

3. **Know the Hardy-Weinberg Equation**: The Hardy-Weinberg equation is expressed as:
\[ p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1 \]
where:
- \( p^2 \) represents the frequency of the homozygous dominant genotype,
- \( 2pq \) represents the frequency of the heterozygous genotype,
- \( q^2 \) represents the frequency of the homozygous recessive genotype.

4. **Identify the Frequency of Heterozygous Individuals**: From the equation, the term that represents the frequency of heterozygous individuals is \( 2pq \).

5. **Select the Correct Answer**: Based on the information above, the frequency of heterozygous individuals in the Hardy-Weinberg equation is represented by \( 2pq \). Therefore, the answer to the question is option B.

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