Solutions For An Introduction to Genetic Analysis Chapter 18 Problem 36P

The B allele is autosomally dominant and deleterious. In a population, the frequency of the individuals affected with this allele is 4 x 10^-6. These affected individuals have 30% of the reproductive capacity of normal individuals.

The percentage of affected individuals will be Bb or 2pq. So, 2pq is 4 x 10^-6. Since q is almost equal to 1, 2p will be equal to 4 x 10^-6. Hence, the value of p is 2 x 10^-6. The mutation rate at which b mutates to B can be calculated in the following way:

…… (1)

Substitute the obtained values in equation (1):

Therefore, the rate at which the allele b will get mutated to its deleterious allele B is.