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Patterns of inheritance

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Question 2

In a certain population of the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa), a rare "melanistic" morph occurs where individuals display solid black rings instead of iridescent blue. This melanistic phenotype is caused by a recessive allele resulting from a mutation in the MOB gene. In this population, one in 625 individuals is observed to have this melanistic phenotype. According to the Hardy-Weinberg principle, the following equations can be used to estimate allele and genotype frequencies within a population:

p2+2pq+q2=1 p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1 p2+2pq+q2=1 p+q=1 p + q = 1 p+q=1

Use the Hardy-Weinberg equations to calculate the percentage of individuals in this octopus population that are heterozygous (carriers) for the MOB gene. Give your answer to one significant figure. Show your working.

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Patterns of inheritance Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Biology
  3. /Patterns of inheritance