The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is based on how many conditions?

The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium relies on five fundamental conditions that must be met for a population to maintain genetic equilibrium over time. These conditions are crucial because they help to predict the genetic variation of a population in the absence of evolutionary influences. The five conditions are:

1. Large Population Size: This minimizes the impact of random events (genetic drift) that can alter allele frequencies.

2. No Mutation: The absence of new mutations ensures that the alleles in the population remain stable over generations.

3. No Migration: When individuals cannot leave or enter the population, it prevents changes in allele frequencies due to gene flow.

4. Random Mating: All individuals have an equal opportunity to mate, which means that allele frequencies will not be influenced by mate selection based on genotype or phenotype.

5. No Natural Selection: All individuals have equal chances of survival and reproduction, meaning no alleles are favored over others.

When these conditions are met, the allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation, allowing for predictions about the genetic structure of the population under study. Thus, the correct answer is based on the understanding of these essential conditions in relation to population genetics.