8. In the 1940s, the scientist J. B.S. Haldane linked many human red blood cell disorders with the tropical regions where malaria occurs. Haldane

hypothesized that the widespread presence of these red blood cell

disorders as well as traits that protect individuals from malaria were the

result of natural selection. Haldane's hypothesis was later confirmed by

the research of A. C. Allison. The resistance to malaria carried by

individuals in areas where malaria is widespread is the result of - *

a. A vaccine against malaria

b. The individual's' genetic composition

c. Antibiotic medications

d. The individuals' behavior in avoiding those with the infection

b. The individual's' genetic composition

Explanation:

Natural selection is an occurrence in nature in which organisms with genes that have mutated to adapt to certain ailments, survive better than their mates. J.B.S Haldane made a hypothesis that this phenomenon of natural selection accounted for why people in Africa had developed resistance to malaria. Their hemoglobin, proteins, and other compounds that are necessary for the function of the red blood cells had been modified so that they would not easily be infiltrated by malaria parasites.

A.C. Allison confirmed this in his experiment which showed that people who had sickle cell mutations in the gene, beta hemoglobin were mostly found in regions where malaria was prevalent. Their genes had also been modified such that they were resistant to malaria.