Question

Byars et al. found that in women born between1892 and1913 lower total cholesterol was associated with higher lifetime reproductive success, but for women born from 1914 to 1956 they found no association. How do you predict the allele frequency will change in a group born starting in 1957 as compared to the group born from 1914-1956?

Select one:

a. they will decrease

b. they will increase

c. they will stay the same

d. there is not enough data to make a prediction

Answer 1

a. Allele frequency will decrease.

it is because during 1892-1913, low cholesterol women were more successful in reproduction. The number of individuals with low cholesterol allele are more because of more offspring produced by the female. But during 1914-1956, such correlation is not there. In such a case women with high cholesterol also reproduced well. So the low cholesterol allele frequency gradually decreases . So after 1957 women born will have decreased frequency of low cholesterol allele.

Low Cholesterol allele frequency will decrease.