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How is a lethal allele maintained in a population?

In: Genetics [Edit categories]

Answer:

A lethal allele is maintained in population for example when you use bug spray on cockroaches there will be at least one cockroach with an allele that protects it from the bug spray, it then breeds and the allele
Is passed to it's offspring and they will also be immune to the pesticide. Those babies will most likely breed with each other when they are mature passing on the allele from both of the parents making the offspring 100% immune. It's the same concept for lethal alleles.

First answer by Goatleygoat. Last edit by Goatleygoat. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

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Relevant answers:

Why would a lethal allele not be eliminated from a population?
If dominant, like Huntington's disease, then it may not be expressed until long after peak reproductive years have passed. If recessive it could be carried and masked from expression for untold...
Why do recessive lethal alleles not appear disappear from a population?
In many cases, the heterozygous condition has a certain advantage. When this is the case, the recessive allele is maintained in a population because it appears in the heterozygotes. Sickle cell...
What is dominant lethal allele?
A dominant lethal allele is a gene that causes death. An individual need only have one allele to die.
What is the movement of alleles into or out of a population?
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How would a lethal allele be dominant?
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