1. Individual organisms that carry harmful mutations tend to be eliminated from a population by natural selection. It is easy to see how deleterious mutations in bacteria, which have a single copy of each gene, are eliminated by natural selection; the affected bacteria die and the mutation is thereby lost from the population. Eukaryotes, however, have two copies of most genes because they are diploid. It is often the case that an individual with two normal copies of the gene (homozygous, normal) is indistinguishable in phenotype from an individual with one normal copy and one defective copy of the gene (heterozygous). In such cases, natural selection can operate only on an individual with two copies of the defective gene (homozygous). Imagine the situation in which a defective form of the gene is lethal when homozygous, but without effect when heterozygous. Can such a mutation ever be eliminated from the population by natural selection? Why or why not? 2. In the case of question 1, what will be the ratio of individuals with one normal copy and one defective copy of the gene (heterozygous) eventually? Assume that mating process is fair.
1. Individual organisms that carry harmful mutations tend to be eliminated from a population by natural selection. It is easy to see how deleterious mutations in bacteria, which have a single copy of each gene, are eliminated by natural selection; the affected bacteria die and the mutation is thereby lost from the population. Eukaryotes, however, have two copies of most genes because they are diploid. It is often the case that an individual with two normal copies of the gene (homozygous, normal) is indistinguishable in phenotype from an individual with one normal copy and one defective copy of the gene (heterozygous). In such cases, natural selection can operate only on an individual with two copies of the defective gene (homozygous). Imagine the situation in which a defective form of the gene is lethal when homozygous, but without effect when heterozygous. Can such a mutation ever be eliminated from the population by natural selection? Why or why not? 2. In the case of question 1, what will be the ratio of individuals with one normal copy and one defective copy of the gene (heterozygous) eventually? Assume that mating process is fair.
