0
What else can I help you with?
Why is sickle cell prevalent in Africa?
In haemoglobin, there are four polypeptide chains that make it's structure, 2 (A) chains and 2 (B) chains. Sickle-Cell Anemia is caused by a mutation the (B) chain that makes the haemoglobin molecules stick to each other and form fibres inside the red blood cell (RBC). Instead of a circular disc shaped RBC we now have a sickle shaped cell. This means transport of oxygen is very innefficient and the disease can cause death. However, in areas with a high malaria rate, heterozygous sickle-cell anaemics (with some sickle shaped AND normal RBCs) are naturally selected because the protozoan (what causes the disease) is unable to live inside the red blood cell due to the fibres formed from the mutation, the cells are more fragile and they have a shorter life span than normal RBCs. This means that people with heterozygous alleles for sickle-cell anaemia benefit against malaria and will survive to reproduce, which increases the allele frequency of the sickle-cell anaemia allele. Those with homozygous sickle-cell anaemia and those with homozygous normal haemoglobin are selected against as the first usually die of the sickle-cell anaemia, and the latter contract malaria. NB. Mutations are rare occurrences. It is even rarer for a mutation to give selective advantage. This mutation for sickle-cell anaemia did not happen to 'cure' or prevent malaria, it was a random occurrence that coincidentally gave a selective advantage against malaria.
What are the chances of a person having a sickle cell disease passing the disease to their offspring?
If one represents a sickle cell gene thus "C" and a normal gene thus "O" then both parents are: Mum CO Dad CO The possibilities for their children are therefore CC OO CO CO in those proportion so 1in 4 will have sickle cell anaemia, 2 in 4 will be carriers (like their parents) and 1/4 will be normal.
How many people die of sickle cell?
Approximately 100,000 people die each year from complications of sickle cell disease, with most deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Early detection, proper management, and access to healthcare can help improve outcomes for individuals with sickle cell disease.
How many people die from sickle cell in Mexico?
22 a year oh yeah duff man
Is it good to have sickle cell?
Yes, and no. No, because when you do have sickle cell anemia, your irregular blood shape interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen and pass through narrow openings such as the capillary. People who have sickle cell die relatively early because of the organ damage and lack of oxygen caused by the blood's irregularity. Yes, because it has been found that people with sickle cell anemia are protected against malaria.
Will your infant die from sickle cell?
Although Sickle Cell Anemia sufferer's often have a shorter life expectancy, infants do not usually die from it. However it is important to get blood tranfusions.
How does balancing selection affect the sickle cell allele in central Africa?
The sickle cell allele can be maintained in the central African population, above the frequency of gene mutation (balancing selection), because the heterozygous sickle cell individuals have an advantage in lifespan, in this malaria stricken region, over the homozygous alternatives. Homozygous sickle-sickle individuals die early from the sickle cell disease. Homozygous nonsickle-nonsickle die early from malaria. The heterozygous sickle-nonsickle have a higher survival against malaria and therefore the sickle cell allele is balanced selected.
Why heterozygous for sickled cell anemia are resistant to malaria?
Because individuals who inherit the gene from only one parent produce red blood cells which are distorted. This distortion makes the cells unpalatable to malaria parasites, without seriously harming the individual. This tends to protect against malaria and that protection causes selection for this allele. Individuals who get the sickle cell gene from both parents suffer serious distortion of the red blood cells. This protects against malaria, but also reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the red cells to a dangerous degree. This causes a disease called sickle-cell anaemia, which causes selection against the gene. In malarial regions a balance is established. When a population with sickle cell alleles moves to an area with effectively no malaria present, the sickle cell alleles are steadily selected against. This shifts the balance steadily towards low levels.
Can you die from sickle cell anemia?
Yes, and no. No, because when you do have sickle cell anemia, your irregular blood shape interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen and pass through narrow openings such as the capillary. People who have sickle cell die relatively early because of the organ damage and lack of oxygen caused by the blood's irregularity. Yes, because it has been found that people with sickle cell anemia are protected against malaria.
What is the common name for sickle cell anemia?
It is a genetic disorder. However... It is also a protection against malaria. For example, if a person were born in an area where malaria is present, he or she would likely die from the disease, unless he or she inherited 1 sickle cell gene. Malaria viruses reproduce in the red blood cells. The parent virus invades a cell, and uses the cell as a host to grow more viruses. With 1 sickle cell gene, malaria viruses that invade a red cell are quickly destroyed, since the red cell collapses, preventing the virus from reproducing. But with 2 sickle cell genes, red cells collapse too easily; just a bruise can cause someone to become anemic when too many red cells collapse. In the real world, people with no sickle cell genes died from malaria. People with 1 sickle cell gene survived. People with 2 sickle cell genes died from sickle cell anemia. It was natures way of assuring that at least half of the population survive, but it is certainly a difficult thing to live with today, now that we can more easily treat malaria.
Can you die from anaemia?
yes, we can die from anaemia if haemoglobin becomes very low.
How many people with sickle cell die each year?
Approximately 100,000 people in the United States are affected by sickle cell disease, and while advancements in treatment have improved life expectancy, it is estimated that around 1,000 to 2,000 individuals die from the disease each year in the U.S. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that sickle cell disease contributes to over 200,000 deaths annually, particularly in regions like sub-Saharan Africa where access to healthcare may be limited. The exact numbers can vary based on healthcare access, disease management, and other factors.
