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Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium describes the state of a population where genetic variation remains constant from one generation to the next, assuming no evolutionary forces such as mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection are at play. It is named after G.H. Hardy and Wilhelm Weinberg who independently derived this principle in 1908. The equilibrium is achieved when both allele and genotype frequencies remain constant in a population over time. This concept serves as a fundamental baseline for understanding the dynamics of genetic variation within populations, enabling scientists to identify deviations from expected frequencies due to evolutionary pressures. In the hierarchy "Science/Genetics/Population Genetics", Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium falls under Population Genetics and provides an essential framework for analyzing patterns of genetic inheritance and population structure in genetics research.