If a Recessive Allele Causes a Fatal Disease That Kills

question 57

Multiple Choice

If a recessive allele causes a fatal disease that kills the affected individual before he or she can reproduce, why doesn't that allele quickly become extinct in the population?

• A)Alleles are never lost from a population.
• B)The homozygous dominant individuals protect the recessive allele in their genomes.
• C)The recessive allele is carried in the genome of heterozygotes, who do not suffer from the disease.
• D)The homozygous recessive individuals give their alleles to other individuals before they die from the disease.

---

Definitions:

Pseudoscientific Relatives

Concepts or theories that are claimed to be scientific but lack empirical evidence and adherence to the scientific method.

Critical Thinking

The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment, often involving questioning assumptions and identifying biases.

Commonsense Statements

Assertions or beliefs that are widely held and considered to be self-evidently true without need for proof.

Critical Thinking

The process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach a conclusion.