'Untangling Sickle-Cell Anemia and the Teaching of Heterozygote Protection'
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| Title: | 'Untangling Sickle-Cell Anemia and the Teaching of Heterozygote Protection' |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Howe, Eric Michael |
| Source: | Science & Education. Jan 2007 16(1):1-19. |
| Availability: | Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Physical Description: | |
| Page Count: | 19 |
| Publication Date: | 2007 |
| Intended Audience: | Teachers |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Scientific Research, Textbooks, Scientific Principles, Diseases, Genetics, Biology, Foreign Countries, Scientists, Genetic Disorders, Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Theories |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11191-005-4712-7 |
| ISSN: | 0926-7220 |
| Abstract: | Introductory biology textbooks often use the example of sickle-cell anemia to illustrate the concept of heterozygote protection. Ordinarily scientists expect the frequency of a gene associated with a debilitating illness would be low owing to its continual elimination by natural selection. The gene that causes sickle-cell anemia, however, has a relatively high frequency in many parts of the world. Historically, scientists proposed and defended several alternative theories to account for this anomaly, though it is now widely recognized among the scientific community that high frequencies of the gene reflect its benefit to heterozygotes against malaria. Textbooks normally develop this concept with reference to the often-used maps of Africa showing how in areas where the frequency of the sickle-cell gene is high, there is also higher exposure to the disease malaria. While sickle-cell anemia is often the example of choice for explaining and illustrating the concept of heterozygote protection, the present paper argues that exploring the history of scientific research behind our contemporary understanding has advantages for helping students understand multiple factors related to population genetics (e.g. mutation, gene flow, drift) "in addition" to heterozygote protection. In so doing, this approach invites students to evaluate the legitimacy of their own alternative conceptions about introductory population genetics or about the genetics of the disease sickle-cell anemia. The various historical theories scientists proposed and defended often resemble those of students who first learn about the disease. As such, a discussion of how scientists reached consensus about the role of heterozygote protection may help students understand and appreciate what are now recognized to be limitations in the views they bring to their classrooms. The paper concludes by discussing the ramifications of this approach in potentially helping students to examine certain aspects of the nature of science. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 47 |
| Entry Date: | 2011 |
| Accession Number: | EJ924560 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Url: https://content.ebscohost.com/cds/retrieve?content=AQICAHj0k_4E0hTGH8RJwT4gCJyBsGNe_WN95AvKlDbXJGqwxwHBCTE5kgk-gHXd2ZYA42XPAAAA4jCB3wYJKoZIhvcNAQcGoIHRMIHOAgEAMIHIBgkqhkiG9w0BBwEwHgYJYIZIAWUDBAEuMBEEDG9VPa6LRRbWIFSfswIBEICBmpMG2NE2EWZBVYGg2viflgDdEsbAdyZ5YfFO7LcnucRNii3k0MgFlNMQPcbtgtLi1O6tXq3QAKdOyCF3raq_RVQ4-y6wqw0BSA6xif9pVrqzzJ66RxigN-3IxvK5-nzzRBdYyz3b-UOw-1Qju2IvbTne-6RZ6ROQZ5NE005j7Lfh7bfXtqGgpR3t36XhAlrvpbG6a1WAnyI3oYA= Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: EJ924560 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ924560 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s11191-005-4712-7 Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Scientific Research Type: general – SubjectFull: Textbooks Type: general – SubjectFull: Scientific Principles Type: general – SubjectFull: Diseases Type: general – SubjectFull: Genetics Type: general – SubjectFull: Biology Type: general – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries Type: general – SubjectFull: Scientists Type: general – SubjectFull: Genetic Disorders Type: general – SubjectFull: Science Instruction Type: general – SubjectFull: Scientific Concepts Type: general – SubjectFull: Theories Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: 'Untangling Sickle-Cell Anemia and the Teaching of Heterozygote Protection' Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Howe, Eric Michael IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2007 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0926-7220 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 16 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Science & Education Type: main |
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