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{{jargon}}

{{jargon}}

'''Sickle cell disease''' is a genetic blood disease seen most commonly in people of [[Africa]]n ancestry.  

'''Sickle cell disease''' is a genetic blood disease seen most commonly in people of [[Africa]]n ancestry. Sufferers are chronically anemic and experience significant damage to their heart, lungs, and kidneys.

==Cause==

==Cause==

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.  

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 cell]]s 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.

As a result of this [[mutation]], the [[red blood cell]]s to take on a sickle shape, rather than their characteristic donut shape.  

Sickle cell disease is determined by inheriting two recessive [[alleles]] which code for hemoglobin. If a person inherits one [[dominant]] and one [[recessive]] allele (i.e., [[heterozygous]]), he 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.

Sickle cell disease is determined by inheriting two recessive [[alleles]] which code for hemoglobin. If a person inherits one [[dominant]] and one [[recessive]] allele (i.e., [[heterozygous]]), he 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.