People that have a single allele (gene copy) for sickle cell anemia are typically not sick from the disease and are said to be carriers of sickle cell trait. These people will more often live in the malaria belt of sub-Saharan Africa. The most likely explanation for this is_________ .

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People with sickle cell trait have a genetic mutation that, while potentially harmful in its homozygous form (sickle cell disease), offers a protective advantage against malaria in its heterozygous form (sickle cell trait). This means that individuals with one copy of the mutated gene are less likely to suffer from the severe effects of malaria, which explains the higher prevalence of the trait in regions where malaria is endemic, such as the malaria belt of sub-Saharan Africa.

People That Have a Single Allele (Gene Copy) for Sickle