Question

People with at least one copy of the HLA-B53 allele are better able to beat back malarial infections before the infection progresses. If this is a coevolutionary arms race between Plasmodium and humans, what would the next step in this race be?A. to see humans with more than one copy of the HLA-B53 allele.B. to see Plasmodium populations that counter the HLA-B53 allele.C. to see humans without the HLA-B53 allele.D. to see Plasmodium populations that have the HLA-B53 allele

Answer 1

Answer: B. to see Plasmodium populations that counter the HLA-B53 allele.

Explanation: An evolutionary arm race is a process whereby two gene exist together( Co- evolve) and they develop adaptation against each other. Hence, plasmodium develops mutation that prevent the protective effect HLA-B53 allele on them such that the mutant can adapt with the presence of HLA B53. This could be through virulence which is the production of malignant or highly infectious strains of plasmodium or by not being detected by the immune system.