The conditions under which the Hardy–Weinberg principle applies
The Hardy–Weinberg principle only holds true when a population meets specific conditions. These conditions include no mutation, no natural selection, random mating, no migration, and a large population size.
Real World
Darwin's finches on the Galápagos Islands violate Hardy–Weinberg conditions — small population sizes, natural selection on beak shape, and limited migration between islands all cause allele frequencies to shift between generations.
Exam Focus
List all five conditions (no mutation, no selection, random mating, no migration, large population) — exam mark schemes typically award one mark per condition.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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