If the observed heterozygosity at a locus is 0.6, which one or more of the following could produce this outcome?
Show Hint
- A neutral locus with three alleles
- A locus under selection with two alleles
- A neutral locus with two alleles
- A locus under selection with one allele
The Correct Option is A, B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding heterozygosity.
Heterozygosity refers to the proportion of individuals in a population that are heterozygous at a given locus. A value of 0.6 indicates a relatively high level of genetic diversity at the locus.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
- (A) A neutral locus with three alleles: A locus with three alleles can result in higher heterozygosity, and a value of 0.6 is reasonable for such a locus.
- (B) A locus under selection with two alleles: Selection can maintain or increase heterozygosity at a locus, especially if heterozygous individuals have a fitness advantage. A heterozygosity of 0.6 is feasible here.
- (C) A neutral locus with two alleles: This could result in lower heterozygosity, typically around 0.5 for a two-allele system in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. It would be less likely to result in 0.6 heterozygosity.
- (D) A locus under selection with one allele: A single allele would result in no heterozygosity at all, so this option is not feasible.
Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answers are (A) and (B), as both can explain the observed heterozygosity of 0.6.
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