Use the Following Information to Answer the Question Below

question 52

Multiple Choice

Use the following information to answer the question below.
Researchers studying a small milkweed population note that some plants produce a toxin and other plants do not. They identify the gene responsible for toxin production. The dominant allele (T) codes for an enzyme that makes the toxin, and the recessive allele (t) codes for a nonfunctional enzyme that cannot produce the toxin. Heterozygotes produce an intermediate amount of toxin. The genotypes of all individuals in the population are determined (see chart) and used to determine the actual allele frequencies in the population.

Is this population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

• A) Yes.
• B) No; there are more heterozygotes than expected.
• C) No; there are more homozygotes than expected.
• D) More information is needed to answer this question.

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Definitions:

Wild Species

Plant and animal species that exist naturally in the wild, untouched by domestication or genetic modification.

Medicinal Benefits

The health advantages gained from the consumption or use of drugs, plants, or other substances with therapeutic properties.

Precautionary Strategy

An approach to decision-making that emphasizes preventive action in the face of uncertainty, aiming to minimize risks.

Captive Breeding

The process of breeding animals in controlled environments within zoos, wildlife reserves, or other facilities to preserve endangered species.