Persons who have the sickle cell trait (heterozygotes for the abnormal hemoglobin gene HbS) are relatively protected against P. falciparum malaria and thus enjoy a biologic advantage.

Why is sickle cell anemia resistant to malaria?

People develop sickle-cell disease, a condition in which the red blood cells are abnormally shaped, if they inherit two faulty copies of the gene for the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin. The faulty gene persists because even carrying one copy of it confers some resistance to malaria.

Does sickle cell help against malaria?

Sickle cell trait (AS) confers partial protection against lethal Plasmodium falciparum malaria.