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What can we expect to see happen to delta-32 allele frequencies over time?

a-New drugs are being created that act on the HIV delta-32 allele.
b-As HIV acts as a selection factor on human populations we may see an increase in the number of people carrying the delta-32 allele.
c-The delta-32 allele should eventually evolve back toward the delta-31 allele.
d-If infection rates go down the delta-32 allele will increase in frequency through natural selection.

User Kalefranz
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Delta-32 allele frequencies may increase if HIV acts as a selective pressure, potentially raising the proportion of individuals with resistance to HIV. However, developments in drug therapies and other factors like historical disease resistance can also influence these frequencies. DNA testing and varied global selective pressures add complexity to predicting exact changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The delta-32 allele, known as CCR5-delta 32, is associated with resistance to HIV infection. Over time, we can expect natural selection to influence the frequency of this allele in human populations. If HIV continues to act as a selection pressure, individuals carrying the beneficial CCR5-delta 32 mutation may have higher survival rates and, consequently, more offspring. This could potentially result in an increased frequency of the delta-32 allele in the population. However, the development of new drug therapies that block HIV from binding to CCR5 might also affect the selective pressures on the delta-32 allele. Furthermore, historical data suggest that the allele was selected for attributes beneficial against diseases like plague or smallpox, which pre-date HIV.

Moreover, with advanced DNA testing and the possibility of new drugs acting on the HIV delta-32 allele, the dynamics of this allele frequency may also be influenced by human intervention. Nevertheless, it is important to note that heterogeneity in infection rates and medical treatment availability across different populations could result in variable selective pressures on the delta-32 allele globally.

User Patrick Beardmore
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