A researcher is keeping tabs on a population of butterflies in Southern California. The species being studied is commonly known as Gossamer-Winged butterflies. These butterflies can have copper tipped wings (dominant trait) or blue tipped wings (recessive trait).
Butterflies, like many organisms, are sensitive to changes in their habitat. This particular population of butterflies being studied has had
significant changes to their habitat in recent years due to drought. In order to keep track of the population, the researcher counts the
number of copper versus blue tipped wings in the population every two years and collects DNA samples to keep track of allele
frequencies. The chart below represents the data he collected in 2017 (day 1) and 2019 (day 730).
Time (days)
1
730
Copper Tip Wings (CC)
190
300
Copper Tip Wings (CC)
485
515
Blue Tip Wings (CC)
325
385
Total
1000
1200
Using the data in the chart above you will answer parts a-d. Show all work on paper you will need to email this. This spot is strictly for
your final answers:
a. Calculate the three observed genotypic frequencies at day 1.
b. Calculate the three expected genotypic frequencies at day 1 IF the population were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
c. Calculate and compare the observed genotypic frequencies to the expected genotypic frequencies at day 730. Does the
population of Gossamer-Winged butterflies seem to be evolving?
Observed genotypic frequencies:
Expected genotypic
frequencies:
Null Hypothesis:
Observation:
d. To add validity to your hypothesis in part (C) complete the Chi Square analysis. What does this result mean for the Gossamer-
Winged butterfly population?