Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease. People who have the disease inherit two copies of the sickle cell gene-one from each parent. The sickle cell gene causes the body to make abnormal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color and carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. In sickle cell anemia, the hemoglobin sticks together when it delivers oxygen to the body's tissues. These clumps of hemoglobin are like liquid fibers. They cause the red blood cells to become stiff and shaped like a sickle, or "C." The sickled red blood cells tend to stick together and get caught in the blood vessels. (Other cells also may play a role in this process.) Two copies of the sickle cell gene are needed for the body to make the abnormal hemoglobin found in sickle cell anemia.
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder. The disease is inherited from two carriers, mother and father; it requires two abnormal genes, one from each parent that is passed along to future generations. This disease turns normal round blood cells into misshaped cells; SCD effects the formation of red blood cells making them unable to flow normally, which leads to health complications and damaged organs.
In Sickle Cell, the red blood cells are deformed, forming a sickle-like/crescent shape. This abnormality is just part of the disease; its irregular shape interferes with blood flow as the cells jam-up when passing through blood capillaries. These deformed cells become sticky; and the clump together causing blockages. As the blockage slows the blood flow, it denies oxygen and nutrients to the body's organs and the brain, which can cause brain damage. SCD can cause acute pain in limbs (bones and joints) and in the body's organs. Individuals with sickle cell often die at an early age; SCD can cause a stroke, Heart disease, and renal failure. Sickle cell can cause serious damage to any organ; liver, kidney, spleen..., and it can be life threatening.
There are variations of Sickle Cell Disease, but ultimately in all variations of SCD the blood cells are mutated (basic info):
Sickle cell trait (HbAS), people with this trait have inherited only one defective gene and they live a relatively normal life.
Sickle Cell Anemia (HbSS), these people have a specific form of SCD; Sickle Cell Anemia is the most common form of the disease, and considered to be the most serious. You may see it listed as SCA, or SCD - HbSS.
Sickle Cell hemoglobin S beta-thalassemia (HbS/Th or HbS/ßTh), those with this form of SCD have inherited both thalassemia genes, which prevents them from producing enough beta proteins. The symptoms of this form are more severe than the verity HbSC (below). The anemia with this form is milder than with other variations of SCD, but generally, suffers do not experience other SCD symptoms, as seriously.
Sickle Cell hemoglobin E (HbSE), those with this variation of SCD are most often of Southeast Asian descent. There may be NO symptoms, but they can suffer from fatigue, iron deficiency, infections, hypoxia, and anemia (mild to moderate).
Sickle Cell hemoglobin SC (HbSC), those with this variation of Sickle Cell Disease have two different genes, a copy of HbS and HbC. Symptoms can develop as they age; anemia (mild to moderate), and some of the symptoms can resemble those with HbSS, but in a milder form. Those with this variation are at serious risk for infection.
sickle-cell disease is caused by a substitution mutation
Mutations in the HBB gene cause sickle cell disease.
Point mutation
insertion
No single mutation is responsible for this disease. It just happens by abnormality in the red blood cells. It affects the hemoglobin.
Sickle cell anemia causes sickle-shaped red blood cells. It is caused by a single base pair gene mutation.
Cannot carry normal levels of oxygen to cells :) *NovaNet*
Sickle-cell disease (SCD), or sickle-cell anaemia or drepanocytosis, is an autosomal co-dominant genetic blood disorder characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape.
Sickle shaped red blood cells are caused by Sickle Cell Anaemia. This is a recessive genetic disease, and the sickle shapes of the blood cells are caused by a mutation in the haemoglobin gene. This disease can lead to many health complications, many of which can be fatal. A theory behind the existence of this disease is that the possession of only a single mutated allele can give resistance to malaria in individuals and so is most seen in areas where malaria is most prevalent. Possessing two mutated alleles causes the full disease.
Cannot carry normal levels of oxygen to cells :) *NovaNet*
Sickle-cell Disease (SCD) is more common in those of African and Mediterranean decent; these people carry the sickle-cell trait; but not all who carry this gene develop the disease. This disease is caused by a genetic defect in an amino acid which shows in those who inherited this blood disease; SCD causes abnormal hemoglobin. This disease causes anemia which is caused by this mutation in the body's hemoglobin, B-globin chain. The abnormal gene causes irregular compounds in the red blood; hence the name Sickle-cell disease. The altered shape (crescent moon form) of the proteins inside of red blood cells causes them to clump and stick together leading to health issues.
Yes, and this is the only way to get sickle cell disease or sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell (both the milder "disease" form and the more severe "anemia" form) are caused by an inherited mutation in a protein that helps form the red blood cells - the defect results in red blood cells that are shaped like crescents or sickles, which is how the disease gets its name.
Because the condition causes the red blood cells to become sickle shaped rather than round.
Cannot carry normal levels of oxygen to cells :) *NovaNet*
Cannot carry normal levels of oxygen to cells :) *NovaNet*
Sickle cell anemia is an example of a cell mutation that can be inherited.