Due to the increase in global travel and the prevalence of invasive species, the Anopheles mosquito carrying the malaria parasite was inadvertently introduced to this isolated Pacific island. A researcher, 100 years from the present day, decides to complete a follow-up study and monitors another 50 couples who are all heterozygous for type A blood and have sickle cell trait. These couples had 136 children. Based on the introduction of the Anopheles mosquito carrying the malaria parasite, predict scientifically logical observed numbers of children for each genotype possibility and complete a chi-square statistical analysis test. Required:
a. What is your predicted chi-square value (χ2 )?
b. Calculate df.
c. Using the critical values table, determine the predicted P value.
d. From your predicted numbers, do you accept or reject the null hypothesis?
e. Based on what you know about hemoglobin, sickle cell disease, blood type, and malaria, what selection pressures are acting on this population of children? Explain your answer.