Question

How can evolutionary biologists use Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium while studying populations of organisms that they suspect may be evolving?​

Answer 1

When the assumptions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is violated, corresponds to different mechanism of evolution.

1.Mutation -Evolution due to mutation occur in a low rate. However, natural selection acting on mutation can be powerful mechanism of evolution.

2. Non random mating- some organisms may prefer to mate with selected organisms of same or different genotype. It can alter genotypic frequency.

3.Gene flow.- It is one of the strong force of evolution. Emmigration or immegration may be occuring.

4. Genetic drift may be occuring.

5. Natural selection may occur when one allele combine with different alleles.

All five mechanism can be used from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium while studying populations of organisms that they suspect may be evolving.