Infectious Disease: Evolving Challenges to Human Health
Allele Frenquencies and Sickle Cell Anemia
 Overview of Activity
In this in class experiment, students look at the evolutionary relationship between sickle cell anemia and malaria. They use different types of beans to represent the alleles of the different genotypes and then calculate allele frequencies in the population based on whether individuals have sickle cell anemia and/or malaria.
Activity Type: In Class Experiement/Simulation
URLs: http://genetics-education-partnership.mbt.washington.edu/
class/activities/HS/sickle-bean.htm
Grade Level: 9-12
Level of Difficulty: Advanced
Amount of Time Required for Activity: One 40-minute Class Period
Recommended Uses:
Prior to attending exhibit, this experimental simulation may be used as an activity to engage students in thinking about the impacts of environment and disease on natural selection
After visiting the exhibit, it may be used to reinforce and highlight the relationship between malaria and sickle cell anemia in Africa through natural selection.
Description
This laboratory experiment uses beans to represent alleles and coin tosses to represent infection with malaria over generations. Students record allele frequencies over time to help understand the relationship between sickle cell anemia and malaria in Africa. By the end of the activity, students find that the beneficial heterozygous genotype for sickle cell anemia keeps individuals from contracting malaria. This activity introduces students to the idea of an evolutionary benefit for some deleterious traits to remain within a population.
This activity was designed by a teacher at the Lake Washington School District for the Genetics Education Partnership.
Relation to the Science Standards
High School
Content Standard A - Abilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry
Content Standard C - Biological Evolution
Content Standard C - Molecular Basis of Heredity
Content Standard F - Perosnal and Community Health
Related Part of the Exhibit
Vector Control and Malaria
Microbial Evolution
Additional Related Links
http://genetics-education-partnership.mbt.washington.edu
/class/activities/HS/sickle-back.htm
(intro section for students and teachers to read)
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