The proportion of an allele in the gene pool to the total number of alleles at a given locus is called ___________.

Options

A. gene pool
B. gene frequency
C. gene flow
D. genetic drift

Answer

The proportion of an allele in the gene pool to the total number of alleles at a given locus is called **gene frequency**.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Terms**:
- **Allele**: A variant form of a gene.
- **Gene Pool**: The total collection of genes and their alleles in a population.
- **Locus**: The specific location of a gene on a chromosome.

2. **Defining Gene Frequency**:
- Gene frequency refers to how often a particular allele appears in a population compared to the total number of alleles for that gene. It is expressed as a proportion or percentage.

3. **Calculating Gene Frequency**:
- To calculate the gene frequency of a specific allele, you can use the formula:
\[ \text{Gene Frequency} = \frac{\text{Number of copies of the allele}}{\text{Total number of alleles at that locus}} \]

4. **Identifying the Correct Answer**:
- The question asks for the term that describes the proportion of an allele in the gene pool relative to the total number of alleles at a locus. This is defined as gene frequency.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the answer to the question is **gene frequency**.