CHAPTER-36 GENETIC DRIFT, HARDY & WEINBERG EQUATION,

EVOLUTION POPULATION GENETICS

PREVIOUS YEAR EXAM QUESTIONS

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[CUET-PG 2024]
1. The Asian mongoose and the American skunk, evolved independently of each other, but show similar structures and
features, for eg., ability to spray their attacker with musk. The similarities between the two organisms are most likely
the result of-
(1) Genetic drift
(2) Divergent evolution
(3) Allopatric speciation
(4) Convergent evolution
Answer Key
1
4

[PRACTICE QUESTIONS] frequency heterozygous dominant individual in that

population is
(1) 16 % (2) 24%
1. If the frequency of homozygous recessive genotype
(3) 36 % (4) 48 %
is 0.36, keeping Hardy-Weinberg law in place, what
would be the frequency of dominant allele? 5. Gene pool refers to total number of:
(1) 0.3 (2) 0.4 (1) Different genes present in all the individuals of a
(3) 0.6 (4) 0.64 population
(2) Similar genes present in different individual of a
2. An autonomous recessive disease in human is due to population
an gene X. How many alleles in a population are
possible for a given 'X' gene? (3) Different genes present in a specific individual of
(1) 2 (2) 1 a population
(3) 4 (4) Unlimited (4) Similar genes present in all the individuals of a
population
3. Harmful mutations do not get eliminated from gene
pool I because: 6. In a population with two alleles ‘a’ and ‘b’ of a
(1) They are formed repeatedly genotype in a ratio of 0.2 and 0.8 in Hardy-Weinberg
(2) Of genetic drift equilibrium, how many individuals in a sample of
(3) They are recessive and carried by heterozygous 300 can be expected to be homozygous for allele ‘a’?
individuals (1) 12 (2) 64
(4) They do have survival value (3) 96 (4) 192

4. The trait follows mendelian inheritance pattern in a 7. Fitness increases when an organism:
population maintaining genetic equilibrium. If 16 % (1) Survives in adverse conditions
of the people showed the recessive trait, then the
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(2) Is stronger than other organisms in it’s (3) Migration of individuals with the allele into other
community populations
(3) Lives for a longer time (4) A high mutation rate in that specific gene
(4) Transfers greater portion of its genes to the next
generation 15. Gene flow describes the movement of alleles
between
8. Which of the following processes is a major problem (1) Individuals (2) Chromosomes
in interpreting molecular phylogeny? (3) Species (4) Populations
(1) Horizontal transfer of genes
(2) Gene duplication
(3) Synonymous mutations
(4) Non synonymous mutations Answer Key
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9. With time molecular distance between organisms 2 1 3 4 1 1 4 3 4 2
increases due to: 11 12 13 14 15
(1) Random drift (2) Natural selection 2 2 3 2 4
(3) Point mutation (4) Neutral mutation
EXPLANATIONS

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10. Which of the following would not induce a change in
the gene ratios of a population? 1. Correct Answer is (4): The Asian mongoose and the
(1) Mutation American skunk, despite being unrelated and
(2) Random mating evolving independently, exhibit similar features such
(3) Sexual selectiveness as the ability to spray a musky substance when
(4) Immigration and emigration among members of a threatened. This is an example of convergent
population evolution, where unrelated species develop similar
traits due to having adapted to similar environments
or ecological niches.
11. Hardy-Weinberg’s law gives the concept of:
(1) Genetic drift (2) Genetic equilibrium
(3) Natural selection (4) Mutation [PRACTICE QUESTIONS]

1. Correct Answer is (2): Let q be the frequency of the

12. Which of the following evolutionary process is
random?
(1) Gene flow (2) Mutation
(3) Genetic drift (4) Speciation
13. Which of the following statement is TRUE?
(1) Evolution is goal oriented
(2) Mutations are always harmful
(3) Variations are necessary for natural selection
(4) Speciation always requires geographical isolation
14. The allele associated with sickle cell anemia
apparently reached a high frequency in some human
populations due to:
(1) Random mating
(2) Superior fitness of heterozygotes in areas where
malaria was present
recessive allele in the population. According to the
Hardy-Weinberg principle, the frequency of the
homozygous recessive genotype (qq) can be
calculated as q 2, where q 2=0.36 .
Therefore, taking the square root of 0.36, we get:
q = √0.36 = 0.6
Using the equation p + q = 1, where p is the
frequency of the dominant allele, we can calculate
the frequency of the dominant allele as:
p = 1 - q = 1 - 0.6 = 0.4
Therefore, the frequency of the dominant allele in
the population is 0.4. The answer is (2) 0.4.
2. Correct Answer is (1): An autosomal gene in humans
can have a maximum of two alleles in a population,
one inherited from each parent. Since the disease in

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 Chapter-36 Genetic Drift, Hardy & Weinberg Equation, Population Genetics
this case is caused by a recessive allele, an individual
must inherit two copies of the mutant allele to show
the disease phenotype. Therefore, the possible
alleles for the given gene X are two - one normal
allele and one mutant allele. The answer is (1) 2.
3. Correct Answer is (3): Harmful mutations can persist
in a gene pool for various reasons, but one possible
reason is (3) they are recessive and carried by
heterozygous individuals.
In the case of a recessive harmful mutation,
individuals who carry one copy of the mutated allele
(heterozygotes) may not show any symptoms of the
disease or condition associated with the mutation,
but they can still pass on the mutated allele to their
offspring. In a population with a high frequency of
heterozygotes for the mutated allele, the allele can
persist in the gene pool even though it is harmful
when present in homozygous individuals. This is
known as a recessive lethal or deleterious mutation.
4. Correct Answer is (4): If 16% of the people showed
the recessive trait, then we can assume that the trait
is controlled by a single gene with two alleles, and
the recessive allele is present in homozygous
recessive individuals (aa).
Let x be the frequency of heterozygous dominant
individuals (Aa) in the population. Since the
recessive trait is expressed in 16% of the people, the
frequency of homozygous recessive individuals (aa)
in the population is √0.16 = 0.4. Using this
information, we can set up the following equation:
q =0.16 q=√ 0.16=0.4 p=1−q=1−0.4=0.6
2
Substituting p=0.6 and q=0.4 into the equation for
the frequency of heterozygous dominant individuals,
we get:
2pq = 2(0.6)(0.4) = 0.48, or 48% of the population.
Therefore, the frequency of heterozygous dominant
individuals (Aa) in the population is 48%. The answer
is (4) 48%.
5. Correct Answer is (1): Gene pool refers to the total
number of different genes present in all the
individuals of a population. Therefore, the correct
answer is option 1, "Different genes present in all
the individuals of a population."
6. Correct Answer is (1): In a population with two
alleles 'a' and 'b' of a genotype in a ratio of 0.2 and
0.8 in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of
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the 'a' allele is 0.2, and the frequency of the 'b'
allele is 0.8. According to Hardy-Weinberg
equilibrium, the expected genotype frequencies are:
• Homozygous ' a ' : p2 =( 0.2 )2=0.04
• Heterozygous: 2 pq=2(0.2)(0.8)=0.32
• Homozygous ' b ' : q2=( 0.8 )2=0.64
We are interested in the number of individuals in a
sample of 300 that can be expected to be
homozygous for allele 'a'. If we assume that the
population is large enough such that we can use the
genotype frequencies as the probabilities of each
genotype, then we can use the expected genotype
frequencies to calculate the expected numbers of
individuals with each genotype in the sample:
• Homozygous ' a ' : p2∗300=0.04∗300=12
• Heterozygous: 2 pq∗300=0.32∗300=96
• Homozygous ' b ' : q2∗300=0.64∗300=192
Therefore, the answer is (2) 12 individuals in the
sample can be expected to be homozygous for allele
'a'.
7. Correct Answer is (4): Fitness refers to the ability of
an organism to survive and reproduce in its
environment. Fitness increases when an organism
transfers a greater portion of its genes to the next
generation through successful reproduction.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 4, "Transfers
greater portion of its genes to the next generation."
Surviving in adverse conditions, being stronger than
other organisms in its community, and living for a
longer time may contribute to an organism's fitness,
but they are not the primary factors determining
fitness.
8. Correct Answer is (3): synonymous mutations (3) a
problem in interpreting molecular phylogeny.
Synonymous mutations are mutations that do not
result in an amino acid change in the protein
sequence, and are therefore thought to be
functionally neutral. However, synonymous
mutations can still affect the evolution of DNA and
protein sequences in various ways.
9. Correct Answer is (4): Neutral mutations are
changes in the DNA sequence that do not affect the
function of proteins and are not subject to natural
selection. They can accumulate over time due to
random mutations in the DNA of organisms. These
mutations can result in changes in the DNA
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169 CUET (PG) ZOOLOGY

sequence and lead to molecular divergence between
organisms.
10. Correct Answer is (2): The process that would not
induce a change in the gene ratios of a population is
(2) random mating. In a population that is in Hardy-
Weinberg equilibrium, allele frequencies and
genotype frequencies will remain constant from one
generation to the next as long as certain
assumptions are met, including random mating.
Random mating ensures that each individual in a
population has an equal chance of mating with any
other individual, regardless of their genotype.
Therefore, the frequency of alleles and genotypes
will not change as a result of mating patterns.
homozygous for the allele. However, heterozygous
individuals who carry one copy of the sickle cell
allele and one copy of the normal allele are less
likely to develop severe malaria.
15. Correct Answer is (4): Gene flow describes the
movement of alleles between populations. Gene
flow refers to the transfer of genetic material
(alleles) from one population to another as a result
of interbreeding between individuals of different
populations. It can occur through various means
such as migration, pollen dispersal, or seed
dispersal, and can result in changes in the genetic
composition of populations over time.

11. Correct Answer is (2): Hardy-Weinberg’s law gives

the concept of (2) Genetic equilibrium. The law
states that in the absence of evolutionary forces
such as mutation, migration, natural selection, and
genetic drift, the frequencies of alleles and
genotypes in a population will remain constant from
generation to generation, and the population will be
in genetic equilibrium.

12. Correct Answer is (2): The evolutionary process that

is random is (2) mutation. Mutations are random
changes that occur in DNA sequences, and they can
result in new genetic variation that can be subject to
natural selection, genetic drift, or gene flow. While
the rate and types of mutations that occur can be
influenced by various factors, such as exposure to
mutagens or errors in DNA replication, the
occurrence of specific mutations is ultimately a
random process.

13. Correct Answer is (3): Variations are necessary for

natural selection. Natural selection is the process by
which certain traits become more or less common in
a population over time, depending on their effects
on survival and reproduction. Variations are the raw
material upon which natural selection acts.

14. Correct Answer is (2): The allele associated with

sickle cell anemia apparently reached a high
frequency in some human populations due to
superior fitness of heterozygotes in areas where
malaria was present. The sickle cell allele causes
sickle cell anemia in individuals who are

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