What does Q² represent in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium equation?

In the context of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, Q² specifically represents the frequency of the homozygous recessive genotype in a population. The Hardy-Weinberg equation is commonly expressed as p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where:

• p² represents the frequency of the homozygous dominant genotype.

• 2pq represents the frequency of the heterozygous genotype.

• q² represents the frequency of the homozygous recessive genotype.

In this equation, 'p' corresponds to the frequency of the dominant allele, while 'q' corresponds to the frequency of the recessive allele. Since Q² (or q²) pertains to the homozygous recessive individuals (those that have two copies of the recessive allele), it is calculated by squaring the recessive allele frequency (q), thus confirming that it accurately reflects the proportion of the population exhibiting that genotype. This understanding is crucial for studying population genetics and assessing the conditions under which genetic variation can be maintained or altered in a population.