Module 7 Lesson 4 - 1
Lesson 4 — Changes in the Genetic Code
Get Focused
Do genetic superheroes exist? It depends on your definition of "superhero".
On the African subcontinent, communities are ravaged by malaria. The genetic makeup of those communities is changing, but it is not changing in the areas without malaria. In Africa, the gene for sickle cell anemia is increasing in frequency
in the population's gene pool. People with one copy of the sickle cell gene can survive malaria. These individuals can survive the disease, live longer, and pass the gene to their children.
This lesson explores how random changes (mutations) can be a source of genetic variation in a population. Sometimes, these variations can be adaptive and give the organism a competitive advantage.
This lesson addresses three focusing questions:
