Problem
In a population of crickets (an insect), you find that size of individual varies; there are small, intermediate, and large crickets. Size is determined by one gene, Giganta, and in this population there are only two alleles for the Giganta gene: G1 and G2. Individuals with the G1 allele have smaller body size, individuals with the G2 allele have the larger body size, and heterozygous individuals have an intermediate body size. Smaller crickets can hide easily from predators, while larger crickets can defend their territories (and themselves) more easily; intermediate crickets are not as successful at either of these. In the population you're studying, you find 523 smaller individuals, 407 larger individuals, and 118 individuals of intermediate size.
• Calculate the frequency of the G1 and G2 alleles. Show ALL your work and reasoning. We should be able to follow your mathematical reasoning for the steps you took to solve this problem.
• Why might you hypothesize that this cricket population is not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? What do you think is happening? Clearly explain your reasoning.