Chapter 29, Problem 1TC

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

The details of protection conferred against malaria sickle cell anemia gene and the effect of a potential vaccine against the trait.

Introduction:

Due to a change in a base on the beta chain of hemoglobin, the manifestation of sickle cell anemia occurs. An individual develops the disease if two copies of the sickle mutation are present in the DNA; however, heterozygotes who have one affected gene did not develop the disease and were highly protected against malaria that also offered an explanation as to the large numbers of people with this mutation in geographical areas where malaria is endemic.