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davepamn davepamn
 

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 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  August 19, 2009 01:58 PM

What human mutations have had beneficial affects?

Most mutations result in sickness or disease.

Natural selection depends on mutation, crossover, and fitness functions to propagate the strongest genes. Name the human mutations in the gene that have resulted in a beneficial side affect.
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rishiku rishiku
 
 August 19, 2009 05:19 PM
I know it is kind of a shot in the foot, but people are born (mainly africans) with a defect that protects them from Malaria. It also kills them later on (ill try and look more into it when I get a chance).
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badaspie badaspie
 
August 20, 2009 12:09 PM - New Source
You're referring to the sickle-cell trait. A single mutation in the gene coding for hemoglobin is responsible. Persons carrying a single copy of the mutation (inherited from one parent) have an increased resistance to malaria, which is a clear advantages in those parts of the world where malaria is endemic. However, if each parent contributes a copy of the mutated gene, the result is sickle-cell anemia, which is likely to result in early death.

http://sickle.bwh.harvard.edu/malaria_sickle.html

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davepamn davepamn
 
August 20, 2009 07:11 PM
Sickle-cell is caused from a HBB gene defect

Badaspie - Interesting fact. Thanks

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mithrandir mithrandir
 
August 19, 2009 03:10 PM
Even though I don't have the exact info readily at hand, I know Scientific American ran a special on exactly this question. It described a number of mutations, that together allowed humans to stand up, and balance on their feet.
I'm not entirely sure on the issue, but it might have been this one:
http://www.sciamdigital.com/index.cfm?fa=Products.ViewIssue&ISSUEID_CHAR=F2ADDBB9-2B35-221B-6404C8B4427F743C

Next to the mutations that allowed us to stand up and walk, another set of mutations allowed us to articulate, and thereby talk. That ability was the main driver for our increased intelligence.
I'll have to look for that issue back at home. If I find it, I'll report back.
Source(s):
http://www.sciamdigital.com/index.cfm?fa=Products.ViewIssue&ISSUEID_CHA...


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davepamn davepamn
 
August 20, 2009 02:21 PM
What was the gene that caused this beneficial mutation?

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