High frequencies of alpha-thalassaemia are the result of natural selection by malaria.

doi:10.1038/321744a0

Article

High frequencies of alpha-thalassaemia are the result of natural selection by malaria.

Nature - 1 Jan 2000

Flint J, Hill A V, Bowden D K, Oppenheimer S J, Sill P R, Serjeantson S W, Bana-Koiri J, Bhatia K, Alpers M P, Boyce A J

Abstract excerpt

The frequency of alpha+-thalassaemia, but not other unlinked DNA polymorphisms, exhibits an altitude- and latitude-dependent correlation with malaria endemicity throughout Melanesia, supporting the hypothesis that protection against this parasitic disease is the major factor responsible for the h...

Topics

Altitude
Gene Frequency
Genotype
Humans
Malaria
Melanesia
New Guinea
Selection, Genetic
Thalassemia

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