Question

Why is the incidence of sickle-cell anemia an excellent example of a “balanced polymorphism,” in which...

Why is the incidence of sickle-cell anemia an excellent example of a “balanced polymorphism,” in which two or more alleles are maintained by natural selection in a population?

Science   Biology   
0 0
Add a commentTranscribed image text
Next >

Homework Answers

Answer #1

Balanced polymorphism is a condition in which the two different versions of a single gene is maintained in a population of an organism because individual carrying both the forms of a gene are able to livee better than those individuals which carries two copies of either version alone.

The evolutionary process which helps the two version of the gene to survive with the passing period of time is known as balancing selection. In other words heterozygote has a selective advantage. Being a heterozygote, sickle cell anemia would gives us a resistance towards malaria. Recessive homozygous would die in early childhood due to sickle cell anemia and dominant homozygotes would die due to malarial infection.

Being a heterozygotes helps us to survive for a little longer so as to produce children and therefore this balancing selection leads to balance polymorphism.

0 0
Know the answer?
Your Answer:

Post as a guest

Your Name:

What's your source?

Earn Coins

Coins can be redeemed for fabulous gifts.

Log In

Sign Up

Not the answer you're looking for?
Ask your own homework help question
Similar Questions
Sickle cell disease (sickle cell anemia) is a relatively common disorder in individuals of African descent...
Sickle cell disease (sickle cell anemia) is a relatively common disorder in individuals of African descent and affects approximately 1 in 500 African-Americans. Due to a mutation in an autosomal gene for hemoglobin, the homozygous recessive genotype leads to red blood cells that are relatively stiff and sticky, and deform into a sickle shape as they lose oxygen. This leads to problems in the spleen, and anemia. There are hundreds of different hemoglobin alleles. Individuals heterozygous for the sickle cell...
Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive condition in which the red blood cells are sickle-shaped...
Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive condition in which the red blood cells are sickle-shaped which can cause severe pain and even strokes. These individuals will have a mutated hemoglobin B gene. A person with sickle cell anemia is given hydroxyurea. Which of the following is true of this treated individual (there are two correct answers). The person will no longer be able to pass this mutation on to their children. The hemoglobin B gene mutation will be repaired.=...
Sickle cell anemia is a disease that results when a person has two copies of a...
Sickle cell anemia is a disease that results when a person has two copies of a certain recessive gene people with one copy of the gene are called carriers carriers do not have that the disease but can pass the gene on to their children or child born to parents who are both carriers has a probability of 0.25 and half of having sickle cell anemia a medical study samples 18 children and families were both parents are carriers what...
Biologist researching the probability of a new-born inheriting Sickle Cell Anemia can determine the likelihood of...
Biologist researching the probability of a new-born inheriting Sickle Cell Anemia can determine the likelihood of this occurring by analysing whether parents carry dominant or recessive genes. Anwar, a biologist carrying out this research is looking into two cases: Case 1: Mustafa has 3/8 chance of passing on Sickle Cell Anemia to his new-born. His wife Tamara, has 1/6 chance of passing on Sickle Cell Anemia to her new-born. Case 2: Khaled has 5/7 chance of passing on Sickle Cell...
Explain why the gene for sickle cell anemia may be beneficial to humans at some point....
Explain why the gene for sickle cell anemia may be beneficial to humans at some point. Describe these conditions.
Sickle-cell anemia is a disease that results when a person has two copies of a certain...
Sickle-cell anemia is a disease that results when a person has two copies of a certain recessive gene. People with one copy of the gene are called carriers. Carriers do not have the disease, but can pass the gene on to their children. A child born to parents who are both carriers has probability 0.25 of having sickle-cell anemia. A medical study samples 18 children in families where both parents are carriers. What is the probability that four or more...
If the frequency of people with sickle-cell anemia in a village in Africa is 0.0025, and...
If the frequency of people with sickle-cell anemia in a village in Africa is 0.0025, and the population is at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which is closest to the frequency of the sickle-cell allele? A) 0 B) 0.0025 C) 0.005 D) 0.025 E) 0.05 F) 0.1 G) 0.2 H) 0.3 I) 0.4 J) 0.45 K) 0.5 L) 0.6 M) 0.7 N) 0.8 O) 0.9 P) 0.95 Q) 0.975 R) 0.9975 S) 1
If the frequency of people with sickle-cell anemia in a village in Africa is 0.0025, and...
If the frequency of people with sickle-cell anemia in a village in Africa is 0.0025, and the population is at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which is closest to the frequency of heterozygous carriers of the sickle-cell allele? A) 0 B) 0.0025 C) 0.005 D) 0.025 E) 0.05 F) 0.1 G) 0.2 H) 0.3 I) 0.4 J) 0.45 K) 0.5 L) 0.6 M) 0.7 N) 0.8 O) 0.9 P) 0.95 Q) 0.975 R) 0.9975 S) 1
The biochemical analysis Red blood cells (erythrocytes) and sickle cell anemia (which can lead to a...
The biochemical analysis Red blood cells (erythrocytes) and sickle cell anemia (which can lead to a splenic infraction on high altitude): QA) Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease that is caused by a single nucleotide change in the gene sequence for hemoglobin. This mutation changes a codon from GAG to GUG, which causes an alteration in the hemoglobin protein, changing what is typically an E into a V. Explain and compare the properties of E and V that make...
Sickle-cell anemia is an interesting genetic disease. Normal homozygous individuals (SS) have normal blood cells that...
Sickle-cell anemia is an interesting genetic disease. Normal homozygous individuals (SS) have normal blood cells that are easily infected with the malarial parasite. Thus, many of these individuals become very ill from the parasite and many die. Individuals homozygous for the sickle-cell trait (ss) have red blood cells that readily collapse when deoxygenated. Although malaria cannot grow in these red blood cells, individuals often die because of the genetic defect. However, individuals with the heterozygous condition (Ss) have some sickling...
ADVERTISEMENT
Need Online Homework Help?

Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 1 hours.

Ask a Question
ADVERTISEMENT