2. Resistance to Infectious Diseases
Our bodies are in a constant arms race with infectious diseases, and evolution plays a crucial role in tipping the balance. Some populations have developed genetic resistance to deadly illnesses. For instance, the sickle cell trait helps protect against malaria, while the CCR5-Δ32 mutation offers resistance to certain strains of HIV.
These adaptations arise as people face repeated exposure to specific pathogens, driving the spread of protective genes within affected communities. Such examples highlight how human populations are still evolving in response to the ever-changing landscape of infectious threats. More from NIH