The Hb^S allele increased in frequency in West African populations due to A)sickle-cell anemia. B)genetic drift. C)migration. D)increased mutation rates. E)natural selection.

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The HbS allele, associated with sickle-cell anemia, confers a survival advantage against malaria, a common disease in West Africa. This advantage under conditions of high malaria prevalence is a classic example of natural selection increasing the frequency of a particular allele within a population.

The HbS Allele Increased in Frequency in West African Populations

The Hb^S Allele Increased in Frequency in West African Populations