# Genotype frequency

Genetic variation in populations can be analyzed and quantified by the frequency of alleles. Two fundamental calculations are central to population genetics: allele frequencies and genotype frequencies. Genotype frequency in a population is the number of individuals with a given genotype divided by the total number of individuals in the population.
In population genetics, the genotype frequency is the frequency or proportion (i.e., 0 < f < 1) of genotypes in a population.
Although allele and genotype frequencies are related, it is important to clearly distinguish them.
Genotype frequency may also be used in the future (for "genomic profiling") to predict someone's having a disease or even a birth defect. It can also be used to determine ethnic diversity.
Genotype frequencies may be represented by a De Finetti diagram.

## Numerical example

As an example, consider a population of 100 four-o-'clock plants (Mirabilis jalapa) with the following genotypes:
* 49 red-flowered plants with the genotype AA
* 42 pink-flowered plants with genotype Aa
* 9 white-flowered plants with genotype aa
When calculating an allele frequency for a diploid species, remember that homozygous individuals have two copies of an allele, whereas heterozygotes have only one. In our example, each of the 42 pink-flowered heterozygotes has one copy of the a allele, and each of the 9 white-flowered homozygotes has two copies. Therefore, the allele frequency for a (the white color allele) equals
    ${\begin{aligned}f({a})&={(Aa)+2\times (aa) \over 2\times (AA)+2\times (Aa)+2\times (aa)}={42+2\times 9 \over 2\times 49+2\times 42+2\times 9}={60 \over 200}=0.3\\\end{aligned}}$
This result tells us that the allele frequency of a is 0.3. In other words, 30% of the alleles for this gene in the population are the a allele.
Compare genotype frequency: let's now calculate the genotype frequency of aa homozygotes (white-flowered plants).
    ${\begin{aligned}f({aa})&={9 \over 49+42+9}={9 \over 100}=0.09=(9\%)\\\end{aligned}}$
Allele and genotype frequencies always sum to one (100%).

### Equilibrium

The Hardy–Weinberg law describes the relationship between allele and genotype frequencies when a population is not evolving. Let's examine the Hardy–Weinberg equation using the population of four-o'clock plants that we considered above:
if the allele A frequency is denoted by the symbol p and the allele a frequency denoted by q, then p+q=1. For example, if p=0.7, then q must be 0.3. In other words, if the allele frequency of A equals 70%, the remaining 30% of the alleles must be a, because together they equal 100%.
For a gene that exists in two alleles, the Hardy–Weinberg equation states that (p$^2$) + (2pq) + (q$^2$) = 1. If we apply this equation to our flower color gene, then
    $f(\mathbf {AA} )=p^{2}$ (genotype frequency of homozygotes)
    $f(\mathbf {Aa} )=2pq$ (genotype frequency of heterozygotes)
    $f(\mathbf {aa} )=q^{2}$ (genotype frequency of homozygotes)
If p=0.7 and q=0.3, then
    $f(\mathbf {AA} )=p^{2}$ = (0.7)$^2$ = 0.49
    $f(\mathbf {Aa} )=2pq$ = 2×(0.7)×(0.3) = 0.42
    $f(\mathbf {aa} )=q^{2}$ = (0.3)$^2$ = 0.09
This result tells us that, if the allele frequency of A is 70% and the allele frequency of a is 30%, the expected genotype frequency of AA is 49%, Aa is 42%, and aa is 9%.