The continued high frequency of the sickle allele (S) of hemoglobin in Africans, in some Mediterranean populations, and in populations descended recently from Africans is a reflection of the response of human populations via _____ to a regional disease.

Question

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The high frequency of the sickle allele (S) of hemoglobin in certain populations is due to natural selection, which favors individuals who are heterozygous for the sickle cell trait in regions with a high prevalence of malaria. These individuals have a fitness advantage because they are less likely to contract severe malaria, while still being able to carry the sickle cell trait. Over time, this natural selection has resulted in a higher frequency of the sickle allele in these populations.

The Continued High Frequency of the Sickle Allele (S) of Hemoglobin