Allele Frequency from Genotype Counts
In a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with allele A having frequency θ, the genotypes AA, Aa and aa have probabilities θ², 2θ(1−θ) and (1−θ)². A random sample of 100 individuals contains 30 of type AA, 50 of type Aa and 20 of type aa. What is the maximum likelihood estimate of θ? Give an exact fraction.
Related problems
Source: Classic Hardy-Weinberg maximum-likelihood example from population genetics texts. Statement written for AxiomIQ.