In the early 1900s, many people, particularly in the southern U.S., suffered from infections with parasitic hookworms. Many of these hookworms feed on blood cells of the host and thus also consume iron that is found in red blood cells. A symptom of a heavy infection is a craving to eat dirt-particularly clay-like soils with a high iron content. Thus, for these people, iron is a __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Iron acts as a constraint in this scenario because the hookworm infection leads to a deficiency in iron due to the parasites consuming the iron found in red blood cells. This deficiency then results in unusual behaviors such as craving to eat dirt to replenish iron levels, indicating that iron availability is a limiting factor for the health of the individuals affected.

In the Early 1900s, Many People, Particularly in the Southern