If a population is in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, what can be inferred about a rare allele "y"?

In a population that is in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, the genetic variation is stable and allele frequencies remain constant over generations, provided that certain conditions are met (such as no mutation, random mating, no gene flow, infinite population size, and no selection).

When discussing a rare allele like "y," it is important to note that it often exists in a higher proportion of heterozygotes compared to homozygotes because most individuals with a rare allele may not express it or may have it masked by a more dominant allele. In this case, if "y" is present, it is likely found in individuals who carry one copy of it alongside one copy of another more common allele. This results in the heterozygous condition being more prevalent among individuals carrying the rare allele, thus supporting the idea that "y" is usually seen in heterozygous situations.

This understanding aligns with the concept that the heterozygous genotype can have certain advantages, several may carry rare alleles without expressing any detrimental traits associated with them. In summary, the frequent occurrence of the rare allele "y" in heterozygotes under Hardy-Weinberg conditions highlights the stability of allele frequencies and the role of heterozygosity in maintaining