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'''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.

'''Sickle cell disease''' ('''sickle cell anemia''') 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 genetic defect which causes the blood protein [[hemoglobin]] to form improperly, making it difficult for [[oxygen]] to join with it and be carried through the blood from the lungs to other parts of the body. The specific cause is when the [[gene]] which creates hemoglobin has a single [[base pair]] change, which causes individual hemoglobin proteins to clump together, impairing [[oxidation]].

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

As a result of this [[mutation]], the [[red blood cell]]s tend 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 in a child is determined by inheriting two recessive [[allele]]s from the parents which code for hemoglobin. If a person inherits one [[dominant]] and one [[recessive]] allele (i.e., he is [[heterozygous]]), he is not affected by the disease, but rather benefits from a [[resistance]] to [[malaria]]. Inheritance of two dominant alleles, of course, causes neither the disease nor any resistance to malaria.

== Sources ==

== Sources ==