Selection for the alpha-thalassemia genes.
Extremely high incidences of single and double deletions of alpha-globin genes are known among Asian populations. To study possible mechanisms for the maintenance of such deletions, mathematical analyses have been conducted. It has been shown that a stable polymorphism can be achieved easily through heterozygote advantage using deterministic models. The results strongly suggest that high incidences of single and double deletion of alpha-globin genes among Asian populations are maintained by some type of heterozygote advantage.
D000483:Alleles; D044383:Black People; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D005006:Ethnicity; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics*
D005914:Globins