What does the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium indicate?

The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is a principle used in population genetics to describe a state where allele and genotype frequencies in a population remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences. This condition implies that the population is not evolving—meaning that the frequencies of alleles remain stable.

When a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, it suggests that the following five conditions are being met: no mutations, random mating, no natural selection, extremely large population sizes (to minimize genetic drift), and no gene flow (migration). If these conditions are maintained, allele frequencies will not change, indicating a stable genetic structure within that population.

This concept is fundamental in understanding the mechanisms of evolution and how various factors can disrupt equilibrium leading to evolutionary change. Thus, the indication of stable allele frequencies in a population underscores the notion of genetic stability in the absence of external evolutionary pressures.