On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 3:34 AM, Vivec wrote: > > > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/21/AR2009062101726_2.html?wprss=rss_nation&sid=ST2009062200350 > > Among West Africans, a chance mutation in the blood protein hemoglobin > turned out to partially protect against malaria. It rapidly became > common in places where malaria was a huge threat to survival.
I hate when journalists fail to adequately explain details like this. The sickle-cell mutation became common-place in West Africa because people who had it were less likely to be bitten by mosquitoes and therefore less likely to contract malaria. The mutation itself did nothing to actually protect against malaria, it just made the people who had it less likely to be bitten, specifically because their blood carries less oxygen and therefore they exhale less carbon dioxide, which is what mosquitoes are attracted to. For anyone that wants to understand more about genetics and how closely linked we all are (we share 99% of our DNA with chimps, so just imagine how much we share with each other), I highly recommend a stint at a biotech/life sciences company or organization. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Want to reach the ColdFusion community with something they want? Let them know on the House of Fusion mailing lists Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:298954 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
