- A. A Sickle Cell Disease is a severe hereditary form of anemia in which a mutated form of hemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape at low oxygen levels. It is most common among those of African/ Asian descent.
- B. Sickle cell disease is caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin-Beta gene found on chromosome 11. Chromosome 11 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in humans that represents between 4 and 4.5 percent of the total DNA in cells.
- C. Individuals with Genotype AS have the sickle cell trait phenotype, and individuals with SS Genotype have the sickle cell disease phenotype.
- D. In adults, a blood sample is drawn from a vein in the arm. In young children and babies, the blood sample is usually collected from a finger or heel. The sample is then sent to a laboratory, where it's screened for hemoglobin S. If the screening test is negative, there is no sickle cell gene present. If the screening test is positive, further tests will be done to determine whether one or two sickle cell genes are present.
- E. Bone marrow transplant, also known as stem cell transplant, offers the only potential cure for sickle cell anemia. ... Treatments might include medications to reduce pain and prevent complications.
- F. People with sickle cell trait rarely develop problems related to their single sickle cell gene, and then only under very unusual conditions; Therefore, neither sickle cell trait nor sickle cell disease can be contracted.
Credits:
Created with images by euthman - "Sickle Cell Anemia"