How is allele frequency defined?

Allele frequency refers to the proportion of a specific allele among all alleles for a particular gene within a given population. This definition is important in understanding genetics and evolutionary biology, as it helps quantify how common an allele is in a population.

For instance, if you have a gene with multiple alleles, allele frequency allows scientists to assess how these alleles are represented and how they might change over time due to factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, or gene flow. By measuring allele frequencies, researchers can track changes in genetic diversity and understand the dynamics of evolution in populations.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of genetics, such as the total number of alleles present, the count of individuals carrying a particular allele, or the overall genetic diversity, but do not specifically define allele frequency in the context of population genetics.