In population genetics, q² represents the frequency of homozygous recessive individuals in a population under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. It is derived from the equation p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where p is the frequency of the dominant allele and q is the frequency of the recessive allele. Understanding q² is crucial for determining genetic variation within a population and assessing whether it meets the conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
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