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Recent studies in Kenya and Ghana have shown that individuals who inherit two malaria-protective genetic disorders of haemoglobin-α(+) thalassaemia and sickle cell trait-experience a much lower level of malaria protection than those who inherit sickle cell trait alone. We have previously demonstrated that this can limit the frequency of α(+) thalassaemia in a population in which sickle cell is present, which may account for the frequency of α(+) thalassaemia in sub-Saharan Africa not exceeding 50%. Here we consider the relationship between α(+) thalassaemia and sickle cell in South Asian populations, and show that very high levels of α(+) thalassaemia combined with varying levels of malaria selection can explain why sickle cell has penetrated certain South Asian populations but not others.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01408.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Evolution

Publication Date

12/2011

Volume

65

Pages

3625 - 3632

Keywords

Asia, Biological Evolution, Disease Resistance, Epistasis, Genetic, Humans, Malaria, Selection, Genetic, Sickle Cell Trait, alpha-Thalassemia