A person heterozygous for the cystic fibrosis allele may be more resistant to contracting

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heterozygous carriers of the cystic fibrosis allele have been suggested to have a selective advantage in resisting typhoid fever. This is because the CFTR protein, which is affected by the cystic fibrosis mutation, is also used by the bacteria that causes typhoid fever to enter cells. A mutation in one copy of the CFTR gene may make it harder for the bacteria to infect cells, thus providing some resistance to the disease.

A Person Heterozygous for the Cystic Fibrosis Allele May Be