If the incidence of an autosomal recessive condition is 1/3,600 live births,what is the carrier frequency?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The incidence of an autosomal recessive condition is 1/3,600 live births. Let "p" be the frequency of the recessive allele that causes the condition. Then, according to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, p^2 = incidence or 1/3,600. Solving for p, we get p = 0.0189. Since this is the frequency of the recessive allele, the carrier frequency (2pq) is 2 x 0.0189 x (1 - 0.0189) which is approximately 0.029. Therefore, the answer is B.

If the Incidence of an Autosomal Recessive Condition Is 1/3,600