Why is sickle cell anemia thought to be a response to the evolutionary pressure of malaria
health advisory
Hospital
Doctor Yu
2007-11-8 19:08:12
Answers:
People who are heterozygous (carriers) for sickle cell anemia have resistance to malaria. Carriers can have what is called "sickle cell trait" because they may show only slight symptoms during severe exertion. Two carriers have a 25% chance of having a child with sickle cell anemia. These children have an increased death rate, even in their twenties during child rearing years. Since areas of Africa with the highest malarial rates show the highest sickle cell rates, the trait seems to be selected for evolutionarily.
People with sickle cells are resistent to malaria. Therefore, the trait survived malaria epidemics.
This is one of those cruel jokes evolution sometimes plays on us. The cell protects the carrier from maleria and maleria is a viralant but. But if the survivors reproduce, the two together create the anemic condition. It dosn't make sense.
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