John Edser wrote:
> "Anon."  wrote:-
> 
> 
>>>>>JE:-
>>>>>Would Dr O'Hara please expand on his recent admission
>>>>>(above) that: "In population genetics, frequency has
>>>>>been (mis-)used is this sense for a long time"
>>>>>and provide a simple example of such misuse.
> 
> 
>>>>BOH:-
>>>>I think you only need to see the thread that I was
answering to see the
>>>>problems.  To make it absolutely clear: it is the use of the word
>>>>"frequency" to mean "proportion" that
is problematic.
> 
> 
>>>JE:-
>>>Previously you wrote:
>>>"Basically, a frequency should be a count.
>>>However, one can talk about a relative frequency, which is a proportion
>>>of a total count belonging to one species.  In population genetics,
>>>frequency has been (mis-)used is this sense for a long time."
>>>Do you mean by "basically, a frequency should be a count"
>>>that gene frequencies within one population should be a
>>>TOTAL count? 
> 
> 
>>BOH:-
>>Err, for gene frequencies I bow down the to conventional usage within 
>>population genetics by not using the term to mean a count, but a 
>>proportion.
> 
> 
> JE:-
> You have mentioned that this constitutes 
> a "misuse". I am attempting to establish why you 
> suggest this is the case beyond just an argument
> from convention. 

It _is_ only an argument from convention - from the conventional use of 
the word "frequency".  As Guy has also pointed out to you, in population 
genetics "frequency" is used to mean "proportion", and
is calculated in 
the same way as any other proportion.

You're flogging a dead horse, John.  The problem here is simply the use 
of "frequency" when "proportion" is meant:
"frequency" is used in the 
wrong place, and so is being mis-used.  Beyond the choice of words there 
is no problem.

Bob

Bob O'Hara
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
P.O. Box 68 (Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2b)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland

Telephone: +358-9-191 51479
Mobile: +358 50 599 0540
Fax:  +358-9-191 51400
WWW:  http://www.RNI.Helsinki.FI/~boh/
Journal of Negative Results - EEB: www.jnr-eeb.org
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