1. What Are Allele and Genotype Frequencies?

Allele frequency (AF) is the relative frequency of an allele in a population. Genotype frequency (GF) is the proportion of a particular genotype among individuals in a population. These are fundamental concepts in population genetics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses these equations:

Where:

• \( AA \) — Number of homozygous dominant individuals
• \( Aa \) — Number of heterozygous individuals
• \( N \) — Total number of individuals in population

Explanation: The allele frequency calculation accounts for both copies of the allele in homozygotes and one copy in heterozygotes.

3. Importance of Frequency Calculations

Details: These frequencies are essential for studying genetic variation, evolution, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and genetic disease prevalence in populations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter counts of homozygous dominant and heterozygous individuals, plus total population size. All values must be non-negative integers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between allele and genotype frequency?
A: Allele frequency measures how common an allele is in the gene pool, while genotype frequency measures how common a specific combination of alleles is in the population.

Q2: What range are these frequencies expressed in?
A: Both are dimensionless proportions ranging from 0 to 1, often expressed as percentages (0-100%).

Q3: How does this relate to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A: These calculations are the first step in testing whether a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Q4: Can I use this for multiple alleles?
A: This calculator is for a single gene with two alleles. More complex situations require different calculations.

Q5: What about recessive homozygotes (aa)?
A: Their count isn't needed for the dominant allele frequency calculation but would be needed for complete genotype analysis.