Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle Cell Anemia Sickle-Cell Anemia Sickle-cell anemia is a disease that affects the shape of red blood cells. Blood cells in people with sickle-cell disease have a bent, or sickle shape. Because of this slight mutation to the cells, they have a tendency to clump together, blocking and damaging parts of the circulatory system. People with this disease experience many side affects. This disease is a sometimes fatal inherited disease that scientists are now beginning to understand and treat.Hemoglobin molecules constructed with defective proteins have a tendency to stick to one another, forming strands of hemoglobin within the red blood cells. These cells become stiff and elongated, or sickle shape. Sickle cells die much more rapidly than normal red blood cells. The body can't create replacements fast enough and anemia develops due to shortage of red blood cells. Further complications arise because sickle cells do not fit well through small blood vessels.English: Description Malaria versus sickle-cell tr...I in 10 African‚ ©Americans carry the gene, and about 1 in 400African‚ ©Americanchildren carry Sickle Cell Anemia.If a person is hybrid for the disease, they are said to have the sickle cell'trait'.Their cells can be made to sickle in a test tube, and under extremeconditions of exercise,and at high altitudes. This is rare and seldom serious,most people with the trait live full,normal lives. The trait can never turn intothe anemia.About 50% of the children of to parents who both have the trait will also havethetrait. About 25% will be born with the anemia, and about 25% will not beaffected byether one.o o|/ |// /T T‚ ©Ã‚‚ ©Ã‚‚ ©+‚ ©Ã‚‚ ©Ã‚‚ ©Ã‚‚ ©Ã‚‚ ©+‚ ©Ã‚‚ ©Ã‚‚ © T=Trait| | | | A=Anemiao o o o N=Not AffectedX X X XT T A NSickle Cell Anemia...