Question

What will happen to the frequency of the recessive allele for the HbS gene when there is an outbreak of malaria?

Answer 1

Answer: The frequency of the recessive allele increases

Explanation: The HbS gene is a variant of the B-globin gene which is responsible for sickle hemoglobin. There is a recessive disorder called sickle cell anemia that is caused by someone having two recessive alleles. When there's an outbreak of Malaria the frequency of the recessive allele of the HbS gene increases because people that are heterozygous have the advantage due to the fact they have normal and sickle hemoglobin so they are more resistant to malaria because malaria will only take action on normal hemoglobin.

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Answer 2

The answer is the frequency of the recessive allele will increase.

HbS gene is a variant of the β-globin gene responsible for sickle hemoglobin. Sickle-cell anemia is a recessive disorder caused by the presence of two recessive alleles. But, when there is an outbreak of malaria, frequency of the recessive allele for the HbS gene will increase. This is because in an area with malaria, heterozygous individuals (with one dominant allele and one recessive allele) have an advantage. These individuals will have both normal and sickle hemoglobin. But pathogen that causes malaria affect only normal hemoglobin, so heterozygous individuals are more resistant to malaria.