Humans homozygous for the sickle cell allele have sickle cell anemia. A human that is heterozygous for the sickle cell allele is an example of ________.
A) codominance
B) incomplete penetrance
C) heterozygous advantage
D) multiple allele systems

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heterozygous advantage refers to the idea that individuals with one copy of the sickle cell allele have increased resistance to malaria, a disease caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells. This is because the shape of the sickle cell hemoglobin makes it difficult for the malaria parasite to survive inside the red blood cell. As a result, individuals with the sickle cell trait (heterozygotes) have a survival advantage in areas where malaria is common, as compared to individuals with two normal copies of the hemoglobin gene.

Humans Homozygous for the Sickle Cell Allele Have Sickle Cell