What does the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium signify in a population?

The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium signifies a state in a population where allele and genotype frequencies remain constant from generation to generation, indicating that the population is in a stable genetic state and not experiencing evolutionary change. This equilibrium assumes certain conditions are met, such as no mutations, random mating, no natural selection, very large population size, and no gene flow.

When a population is at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, it implies that there are no external factors causing changes in allele frequencies, such as migration, genetic drift, or selection pressures. Therefore, the genetic makeup of the population remains static over time, reflecting that it is not evolving.