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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 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 a genetic blood disease seen most commonly in people of [[Africa]]n ancestry. |
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| − | 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. | + | ==Cause== |
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| | + | 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. |
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| | + | 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. |
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| | + | 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. |
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| | == Sources == | | == Sources == |