How to Ace Hardy-Weinberg Questions on Your Exam

Are you consistently losing points on Hardy-Weinberg because of forgetting that q^2 is the phenotype, not just the allele? If so, you're making the exact same error as 80% of your class.

The 3-Step Exam Strategy

1. Isolate: Extract the exact variables from the prompt.
2. Anticipate the Trap: The professor is betting you will end up forgetting that q^2 is the phenotype, not just the allele. Know this before you write your first line.
3. Execute: Follow the algorithm. For instance: If a recessive disease affects 1% of the population, q^2 = 0.01. That means q (the allele frequency) is 0.1, or 10%. Do not confuse the two variables..

If you get stuck, do not burn 15 minutes staring at it. Write down the formula, get partial credit, and move on.

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