4. Forest logging removes trees, leaving behind only smaller bushes. Some rats in a depleted forest have an allele that makes them smaller than normal rats. It is easier for the small rats to hide from predators in the bushes.

a) Give three reasons that the rat population is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. (6 points)
There is gene flow between populations, mating is assortative and natural selection is taking place from the variations offered and by recombination and mutation. Alleles are changing frequency in the population of rats and negating Hardy-Weinberg constraints.

b) How will the allele frequency change in the rat population? (3 points)

c) Is this an example of natural selection? Explain. (4 points)

d) Has genetic diversity helped or hurt the survival of the rat population? Explain. (4 points)

e) The allele for small size is recessive, and the allele for normal size is dominant. The frequency for the normal-size allele is 0.72. What percentage of the rats are normal sized? (3 points)

Question

4. Forest logging removes trees, leaving behind only smaller bushes. Some rats in a depleted forest have an allele that makes them smaller than normal rats. It is easier for the small rats to hide from predators in the bushes.

a) Give three reasons that the rat population is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. (6 points)
There is gene flow between populations, mating is assortative and natural selection is taking place from the variations offered and by recombination and mutation. Alleles are changing frequency in the population of rats and negating Hardy-Weinberg constraints.

b) How will the allele frequency change in the rat population? (3 points)

c) Is this an example of natural selection? Explain. (4 points)

d) Has genetic diversity helped or hurt the survival of the rat population? Explain. (4 points)

e) The allele for small size is recessive, and the allele for normal size is dominant. The frequency for the normal-size allele is 0.72. What percentage of the rats are normal sized? (3 points)