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'''Sickle cell disease''' is a genetic blood disease seen most commonly in people of [[Africa]]n ancestry. The disorder is caused by a single base pair change in one of the [[gene]]s that codes for [[hemoglobin]], the blood protein that carries oxygen. This mutation causes the red blood cells to take on a sickle shape, rather than their characteristic donut shape. Individuals who suffer from sickle cell disease are chronically anemic and experience significant damage to their heart, lungs, and kidneys.

'''Sickle cell disease''' is a genetic blood disease seen most commonly in people of [[Africa]]n ancestry. The disorder is caused by a single base pair change in one of the [[gene]]s that codes for [[hemoglobin]], the blood protein that carries oxygen. This abnormality causes hemoglobin to be formed improperly, and causes individual hemoglobin proteins to clump together, impairing the binding of oxygen. As a result of this mutation, the red blood cells to take on a sickle shape, rather than their characteristic donut shape. Individuals who suffer from sickle cell disease are chronically anemic and experience significant damage to their heart, lungs, and kidneys.

 

Sickle cell disease is determined by inheriting two recessive [[alleles]] which code for hemoglobin. If a person inherits one dominant and one recessive allele (ie [[heterozygous]]), he or she is not affected by the disease, but rather has a resistance to [[malaria]]. Inheritance of two dominant alleles, of course, causes neither the disease or any resistance to malaria.

== Sources ==

== Sources ==