Question

The sum total of all the individuals of a Mendelian population constitutes
A. Gene frequency
B. Gene pool
C. Genome
D. Genotype

Answer 1

Hint:- Population is described as the number of people in an area at a given time. It can be used in reference to the number of people possessing a particular character or group of characteristics in an area at a given time. In evolutionary genetics, we find the importance of population when we study various interlinked concepts like allele frequencies, consanguinity, mating patterns, gene flow, natural selection, etc.

Complete step-by-step solution:- Dobzhansky in 1951, defined the Mendelian population as a reproductive community of sexual and cross fertilizing individuals who share a common pool of genes' '. The main property of a Mendelian population is that it should be infinitely large and its genetic composition should remain unaltered by natural selection, mutation, genetic drift, gene migration, non-random mating and reproduction. Such a population is said to be in equilibrium. However, natural populations reproduce and mediate changes in genetic composition. Mutations and selections are two important driving forces of evolution. Mutations are rare events which bring about heritable changes in the genetic material as Genes are transmitted from one generation to another.
A gene pool is the collection of different genes and its alleles contained within a population of sexually reproducing organisms. The gene pool is described by allele frequencies and genotype frequencies. So we can infer that in a Mendelian population, the sum total of all individuals represents a gene pool.
So, the correct answer is (B), Gene pool.

Note:-
A genome is the complete set of genetic material of an organism, whereas, genotype refers to the genetic makeup of an organism and forms the basis for physical characteristics of an organism.
Gene frequency is calculated as the incidence of an allele at a genetic locus in a given population.