Practice question

With allele frequencies p and q summing to one, heterozygote proportion under random mating equals two multiplied by p multiplied by q. Given q equals 0.2, p equals 0.8 by complement rule. Multiplying yields two times 0.8 times 0.2 equals 0.32. This illustrates that even relatively rare alleles generate substantial heterozygote numbers because pairing can occur in two directions. In disease genetics, such calculation estimates carrier burden for recessive disorders. Relationship holds strictly when population meets Hardy-Weinberg assumptions without drift, selection, migration, or nonrandom mating influencing genotype formation.