In the context of genetics and allele frequencies, population genetics is the study of what?

• A. How proteins are synthesized and processed in cells, including translation, folding, and post-translational modification
• B. How individual organisms regulate gene expression through transcription factors and epigenetic modifications during development
• C. How allele and genotype frequencies change within and among populations over time due to evolutionary forces such as selection, drift, mutation, and gene flow
• D. How chromosomes segregate during meiosis and mitosis to produce gametes and daughter cells

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that population genetics focuses on the genetic composition of populations rather than individual organisms or cellular processes.
2. Recognize that it studies how allele frequencies (variations of a gene) and genotype frequencies (combinations of alleles) change over time within populations.
3. Identify the evolutionary forces that influence these changes, including natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.
4. Note that population genetics examines these changes both within a single population and among different populations.
5. Conclude that the main goal of population genetics is to understand the mechanisms driving genetic variation and evolution in populations over generations.