Gene frequency

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Gene Frequency

Gene frequency (pronunciation: /dʒiːn friːkwənsi/), also known as allele frequency, is a fundamental concept in the field of genetics. It refers to the relative frequency of an allele (variant of a gene) in a population.

Etymology

The term "gene frequency" is derived from the English words "gene", which comes from the Greek word "genos" meaning "birth" or "origin", and "frequency", which originates from the Latin word "frequentia" meaning "crowded", "frequent".

Definition

Gene frequency is the ratio of a particular allele to the total of all alleles of the same gene in a given population. It is usually expressed as a proportion or a percentage. For example, if an allele occurs 20 times in a gene pool for every 100 occurrences of all alleles for the same gene, the gene frequency is 0.20 or 20%.

Calculation

The gene frequency is calculated by dividing the number of a specific allele by the total number of alleles in the population. This calculation is fundamental in the study of population genetics, which focuses on genetic variation within populations.

Importance

Understanding gene frequency is crucial in many areas of genetics, including the study of genetic drift, natural selection, and genetic diseases. It can help scientists understand how genetic traits evolve over time and how diseases spread within a population.

Related Terms

  • Genotype frequency: The proportion of a genotype among individuals in a population.
  • Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium: A principle stating that both allele and genotype frequencies in a population remain constant from generation to generation unless specific disturbing influences are introduced.
  • Genetic variation: The difference in DNA among individuals or the differences between populations.

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