Asked by Thomas Gordon on May 11, 2024
Verified
The persistence of malaria and sickle-cell anemia within a population best illustrates ____.
A) bottlenecking
B) balanced polymorphism only
C) natural selection only
D) artificial selection only
E) balanced polymorphism and natural selection
Sickle-Cell Anemia
An inherited blood disorder characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin, leading to deformed red blood cells that can cause blockages and severe pain.
Balanced Polymorphism
Maintenance of two or more alleles of a gene at high frequency in a population.
Malaria
A life-threatening disease transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, characterized by fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms.
- Comprehend and interpret the relevance of various allele systems and balanced polymorphisms in populations.
- Apprehend the consequence of natural selection, sexual selection, and genetic drift on the development of microevolutionary phenomena.
Verified Answer
AT
Aariyan TooleyMay 12, 2024
Final Answer :
E
Explanation :
The fact that sickle-cell anemia confers resistance to malaria is an example of balanced polymorphism, where multiple alleles are maintained in a population due to their fitness advantages in certain environments. Natural selection also plays a role in this scenario by favoring individuals with the sickle-cell allele in areas where malaria is prevalent. Therefore, the persistence of both malaria and sickle-cell anemia within a population best illustrates balanced polymorphism and natural selection.
Learning Objectives
- Comprehend and interpret the relevance of various allele systems and balanced polymorphisms in populations.
- Apprehend the consequence of natural selection, sexual selection, and genetic drift on the development of microevolutionary phenomena.