The sickle-cell allele is pleiotropic (that is, it affects more than one phenotypic trait). specifically, this allele affects oxygen delivery to tissues and affects one's susceptibility to malaria. heterozygous individuals who have one normal and one sickle-cell allele have a phenotype that has both costs and benefits. the cost: under conditions of low atmospheric oxygen availability, individuals heterozygous for this allele can experience life-threatening sickle-cell "crises." the benefit: such individuals are less susceptible to malaria. thus, pleiotropic genes/alleles reveal that