1. What is Allele Frequency?

Allele frequency is a measure of the relative frequency of an allele at a particular locus in a population. It shows how common an allele is in a population.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the allele frequency equation:

Where:

• \( AF \) — Allele frequency (dimensionless)
• \( C \) — Count of the specific allele in the population
• \( N \) — Number of individuals in the population

Explanation: The equation calculates the proportion of all alleles in a population that are a specific allele. Each individual carries two alleles, hence the denominator is 2 × N.

3. Importance of Allele Frequency Calculation

Details: Allele frequencies are fundamental in population genetics, used to study genetic variation, evolution, and inheritance patterns in populations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the count of the specific allele and the total number of individuals in the population. Both values must be positive integers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does an allele frequency of 0.5 mean?
A: An allele frequency of 0.5 means that 50% of all alleles at that locus in the population are the specific allele being measured.

Q2: What's the range of possible allele frequencies?
A: Allele frequencies range from 0 (allele not present) to 1 (only this allele exists in the population).

Q3: How is this different from genotype frequency?
A: Allele frequency counts individual alleles, while genotype frequency counts combinations of alleles in individuals.

Q4: Why multiply by 2 in the denominator?
A: Each individual has two alleles at each autosomal locus, so the total number of alleles is 2 × N.

Q5: Can this be used for sex-linked genes?
A: For sex-linked genes in XY systems, males have only one X chromosome, so the calculation needs adjustment.