Hardy - weingberg problem solving

[dentalstudent2021]

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could someone please tell me how to figure out if p2 or p is given and if q or q2 is given. I get confused between these. I do know p2/q2 is frequency of homozygotes and and p/q is allele frequency
Thanks!

an example :suppose a plant population consists of 84% plants with red flowers and 16% with white flowers. Assume the red allele (R) is dominant and the white allele (r) is recessive.

 

[Incis0r]

If the problem talks about phenotype (red flowers, white flowers, etc.) then it is p^2 or q^2.

For it to be p or q, the problem would have to say "the frequency of the (R) red allele is ____" or "the frequency of the (r) white allele is _______"

So in your case, q^2 = .16, q = .4, p=.6. Note: you can't declare that p^2 = .84 because red flowers includes homozygous red AND heterozygous (since red is dominant over white allele-wise), so p^2 + 2pq = .84, and q^2 = .16.

 

[dentalstudent2021]

If the problem talks about phenotype (red flowers, white flowers, etc.) then it is p^2 or q^2.

For it to be p or q, the problem would have to say "the frequency of the (R) red allele is ____" or "the frequency of the (r) white allele is _______"

So in your case, q^2 = .16, q = .4, p=.6. Note: you can't declare that p^2 = .84 because red flowers includes homozygous red AND heterozygous (since red is dominant over white allele-wise), so p^2 + 2pq = .84, and q^2 = .16.

Thanks Captain!

 

[Incis0r]

Thanks Captain!

Anchors aweigh, shipmate!