Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Model

Activity Summary
Students test different individuals’ ability to taste PTC (phenylthiocarbamide) to demonstrate the Hardy-Weinberg principle. Students will also test the genotype frequencies of an ideal population across generations and examine how selection, heterozygote advantage, and genetic drift change the genotype frequencies.

Grade Levels
9-12

Learning Objectives
1. Explain what constitutes evolution
2. Identify seven conditions that are needed for evolution to NOT occur in a population
3. Explain the mechanisms of evolution
4. Be able to use the Hardy-Weinberg equation

Lesson Materials (view or download)
PowerPoint
Lesson Plan

Keywords
allele, gene pool, population, homozygous, heterozygous, genetic drift, selection, heterozygote advantage

Last updated: 3/3/2015