If a recessive allele is lethel before reproduction when homozygous, _______.

a. there is not enough information to make predictions about the allele frequency

b. the allele frequency will increase in the population over the next 1,000 years

c. the allele will most likely remain in the population at a low frequency because it cannot be selected against in heterozygous individuals.

d. the allele is present in the population at a frequency of 0.001.

e. the allele will be removed from the population by natural selection in approximately 1,000 years.

Question

If a recessive allele is lethel before reproduction when homozygous, _______.



 a. there is not enough information to make predictions about the allele frequency

 b. the allele frequency will increase in the population over the next 1,000 years

 c. the allele will most likely remain in the population at a low frequency because it cannot be selected against in heterozygous individuals.

 d. the allele is present in the population at a frequency of 0.001.

 e. the allele will be removed from the population by natural selection in approximately 1,000 years.

anonymous · Answer

Can anyone help me on this please

anonymous · Answer

The answer is c.  Because even though when in homozygous individuals, the recessive allele will never appear in the population due to homozygous lethality, a small percentage of the allele will remain in heterozygous individuals as the allele will not be lethal in the heterozygotes.  As a result, a small proportion of the homozygous lethal allele will be preserved in the population with the heterozygotes, which has no effect on the fitness of the heterozygote.