Question

(For questions 1 – 3) The peppered moth, Biston betularia, experienced a dominant mutation in the cortex gene, located on chromosome 17, about 1819 in England. This mutation is responsible for the melanism mutation that causes dark coloration. The mutation is due to an insertion of a large, tandemly repeated, transposable element into the gene’s first intron. The ‘normal’ (non-mutant) coloration pattern is peppered light grey.

1. Melanism is a Mendelian trait. Refer to the alleles as M and m. The allele frequencies in a population at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are M=0.4, m=0.6. Assuming that there is no immediate selection on this trait, what is the expected frequency of melanistic moths in a population of 100 individuals? A. 0.16 B. 0.24 C. 0.36 D. 0.48 E. 0.64

2. After a coal power plant is established in the area, the number of individuals of each genotype that survived is given below. Which of the following represents how you would calculate absolute fitness of the Mm genotype? Genotype Number of surviving individuals MM 16 Mm 6 mm 12. A. 6/16 B. 6/48 C. 6/0.48 D. 6/64 E. 6/24

3. Which genotype will have the largest selection coefficient? A. MM B. Mm C. mm D. MM and mm will have equal selection coefficients.

Answer 1