Definition of Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium



Hardy Weinberg equilibrium also known as Hardy Weinberg principle is an algebraic equation which is used to describe the genetic equilibrium existing in a population. It was given by a German physician named Wilhelm Weinberg and a British mathematician, Godfrey Hardy in 1908. According to them, it is a phenomenon by which the frequencies of alleles are stably maintained under the specific circumstance and the predictions can be made for the genotypes on the basis of the Hardy-Weinberg equation which is p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1.

 


This equation is used by geneticists to estimate the possibility of human mating that can result in offspring that are functionally defective. The probability of mutations that are increasing in a population can also be determined by this.


View More Genetics Definitions