Finding Evidence of Natural Selection

When an allele is common in a population, scientists suspect that the trait it is producing is adaptive—or makes people more suited to their environment—and that the trait is the result of natural selection.

Let’s explore the process of finding evidence of selection for traits.

Connection Between Sickle Cell Allele and Malaria

Dr. Anthony Allison discovered a connection between the sickle cell allele, or character, and malaria in certain environments