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
