Problem
Sickle Cell Anemia and Malaria: A Mutation Story
As you have learned, genetic variation and natural selection are significant drivers of the evolution of living things. In this week's discussion, you will explore sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease, and the infectious parasitic disease, malaria.
Review at least one of the following resources:
a) Pleasants, S. (2014). A moving target. Nature, 515, S2-3. doi:10.1038/515S2a
b) HHMI Biointeractive. (2014). Malaria and sickle cell anemia [YouTube Video].
Then, address the following in your main response. Throughout the week, review your classmates' posts and comment as appropriate on at least two other posts per the Discussion Guidelines.
A. Provide a brief description of sickle cell anemia and malaria, including the major symptoms of each disease and the geographic areas with highest rates of malaria infection and the highest incidence of sickle cell anemia.
B. Based on the reading/video, why do you think sickle cell anemia became prevalent in Africa? Why is sickle cell anemia now prevalent in other geographical areas?
C. Prior to this discussion, were you aware of the connection between malaria and sickle cell anemia? How is this connection an example of natural selection?
D. What is another example of natural selection?
E. We now have antimalarial drugs that can treat and prevent malaria. What do you think might happen to the sickle cell gene as these drugs become more available? Why?