Scenario #1
Easter Island is a small island in the southern Pacific Ocean. It lies approximately 3,500 kilometers east of Chile and is considered one of the most remote islands. It is also a volcanic island. In 2025, Easter Island had a population of 16,000. However, many of the island’s residents were killed during a series of volcanic eruptions that occurred in the year 2065.

Of the original population, only 200 people survived. It is now 100 years later, and the population of Easter Island has reached 800. Of the current population, 328 people are homozygous recessive for Marfan syndrome, which is autosomal (mm genotype). Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue. Symptoms of Marfan syndrome include increased height, thinness, flexible joints, heart complications, and long arms, legs, fingers, and toes.

q2 –

q –

p –

p2 –

2pq –

Conclusion Questions
Use this information to help you answer the following questions:
The original population’s actual genotype frequencies were: MM – 0.42, Mm – 0.13, mm – 0.45.

1. Is the current population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? Yes or No

2. Is the current population evolving? Yes or No

3. If the current population is evolving, what type of effect is responsible for genetic drift?