[Campbell Biology P.554] Heterozygotes for the sickle-cell locus produce both normal and abn... | Practice Question

Heterozygotes for the sickle-cell locus produce both normal and abnormal hemoglobin. When hemoglobin molecules in these individuals are packed into red blood cells, some cells receive relatively large quantities of abnormal hemoglobin, making them prone to sickling. This sickling can lead to various symptoms at the individual level e.g., pain, anemia and affect population dynamics e.g., resistance to malaria . This phenomenon illustrates emergent properties across different levels of biological organization. Which of the following sequences best represents the progression of emergent properties in this scenario, from the lowest to the highest level?

  • A: Molecular -> Cellular -> Tissue -> Organ -> Individual
  • B: Molecular -> Cellular -> Individual -> Population
  • C: Cellular -> Tissue -> Individual -> Population
  • D: Molecular -> Individual -> Population -> Ecosystem

Explanation

The explanation starts with the abnormal hemoglobin molecules molecular level . These molecules are packed into red blood cells , leading to the sickling of cells cellular level . The sickling of cells causes various symptoms in the individual individual level . Finally, the impact on individuals, such as resistance to malaria, affects the trait's prevalence and dynamics within a population population level . This progression accurately follows the emergent properties described.