Which of the following factors would cause a population to deviate from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium?

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Question restatement: Which of the following factors would cause a population to deviate from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium?

Option 1: No mutations
Here, the statement says there are no mutations. The Hardy–Weinberg principle assumes no mutation as part of its conditions. Therefore, having no mutations would help maintain equilibrium rather than cause a deviation. This option does not describe a force that would push a population away from HW expectations.

Option 2: No selection pressure
If there is no selection pressure, individuals with different genotypes have equal chances of survival and reproduction. This supports maintaining HW proportions, not causing a deviation. Lack of selection aligns with HW assumptions rather than violating them.

Option 3: Random mating
Random mating is another key HW assumption. When mating is random with respect to the gene in question, genotype frequencies remain in the expected p^2:2pq:q^2 ratio given allele frequencies. Thus, random mating does not cause deviation; it preserves HW equilibrium.

Option 4: A small population size
A small population size undermines the HW assumptions by increasing the impact of genetic drift. Random fluctuations in allele frequencies from one generation to the next are more pronounced in small populations, and this can lead to deviations from HW expectations, including loss of heterozygosity and allele fixation over time. This is a classic source of deviation from equilibrium.

Summary of reasoning across options:
- No mutations: removes a potential source of deviation; not a deviation-causing factor under HW assumptions.
- No selection pressure: supports HW equilibrium as it preserves equal reproductive success among genotypes.
- Random mating: foundational to HW; maintains expected genotype proportions.
- A small population size: introduces genetic drift, a well-known cause of deviation from HW equilibrium.

Therefore, among the given options, the factor that would cause deviation is the small population size.

AGRI10051_2025_SM2 Exam: Genetics for Agriculture (AGRI10051_2025_SM2)- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

Which of the following factors would cause a population to deviate from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium?

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