My ethics class today focused on th ethics involved with genetic testing. That topic is a little too deep to dive into on this blog, but I did learn a few interesting little tid bits in the lecture.
Why do certain potentially lethal genetic mutations persist in the population when, until quite recently, those who got the disease caused by the mutation perished before passing it on? To survive the ruthless culling of evolution, the mutation must provide some advantage. Two prime of examples of this are cystic fibrosis carriers and sickle cell anemia carriers. People with only one copy of the mutated gene which causes cystic fibrosis apparently gain protection from infection by the bacterium that cause typhoid and cholera. People with only one copy of the mutated gene that causes sickle cell anemia apparently gain protection from infection by the parasite that causes malaria. This explains why sickle cell anemia is so common in the African American population. Their ancestors came from an area of the world where malaria is prevalent.
Kind of interesting how things work, huh?
1 comment:
I wish someone could do something about the stupid gene President Bush has mutating in his body.
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