Explore sickle cell disease and its evolutionary basis in greater depth by reading information from the web sites below. Also, make sure to consult pages 84-89 of your textbook for a discussion of the topic.
Symptoms and Genetics of Sickle Cell Disease
A Mutation Story (PBS Evolution Library)
New York Times article on the evolution of the sickle cell allele
Q1 : Why are there higher frequencies of the sickle cell allele where malaria is present?
Q2 :How did human farming influence the evolution of the sickle cell allele in human populations?
Q3 : Looking to the future, what factors (environmental, genetic, or social) could cause alteration in frequencies of the sickle cell in human populations? What changes to the sickle-cell allele do you envision as most likely, and why?