Re:How Devastating was the Black Death?
by bkohlmann on Wednesday July 19, 2017 @11:24PM
(#14809833)
Could the numbers also be influenced, literally, by survivorship bias? Those that survived malaria likely had a genetic advantage that they passed along, while those that didn't died. Malaria may have far less impact today than in the past.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
At least one such genetic advantage has already been identified: the gene mutation that causes Sickle Cell Anemia when present as two copies conveys malaria resistance as a singleton. In areas where malaria is endemic, it would be selected for.