Malaria vs. sickle cell

[Anthony J Carter]

In article: <Pine.3.07.9501250833.A5711-9100000 at alsys1>  teitelba at aecom.yu.edu (Rachel 
Teitelbaum) writes:
> 
> >  There are anumber of other mutations which are
> > protective for malaria and which are present in the african and mediteranean
> > populations and the high frequencies are thought to be maintained by 
> > selection through the disease.
> 
> 
> Would thallisemia be included in these?  
 
 
Yes thalassaemia is one of the two major types of haemoglobinopathies
that seem to confer protection against malaria.  

Thalassaemias are characterised by a fault in haemoglobin 
production, whilst the sickle type disorders are actual mutations 
causing functional problems in the haemoglobin molecule. They both seem 
to cause problems for the Plasmodium parasasite.  
 
--
Anthony J Carter