Question

If a field population started with 50% standard (YY) plants and 50% (yy) plants, how wound you expect frequencies of the two alleles (Y and y) to change in future generations?

Answer 1

In a field population starting with a 1:1 ratio of YY and yy plants, I would expect the Y allele to increase in frequency in future generations. Due to the greater fitness of YY morphs, according to the lab results, I would predict the frequencies to change to 90% YY plants and 10% yy plants after many generations if natural selection continues to favour plants with a greater number of leaves and flowers and greater height. The YY will have higher survivorship and reproductive success, thus increasing the Y allele.