2. What is It?
A genetic disorder which causes some red
blood cells to go out of shape.
It is caused by a faulty recessive allele
which codes for haemoglobin (protein that
carries o2 found in blood).
3. How is it Passed on?
QUESTION
If both the mother and father is a carrier of
sickle-cell allele, what is the likelihood that
their child would get sickle-cell anaemia?
Fill in the punnet square to show all options.
5. Symptoms?
Severe Pain
sickle cells block tiny vessels
Anaemia
damaged cells can’t be replaced fast enough by
the spleen
Tiredness
because of shortage of oxygen
6. Advantages
A carrier of sickle-cell anaemia is less likely to catch
malaria. A carriers condition is known as ‘sickle-cell trait’.
The frequency of the sickle-cell allele is higher in places
with a high count of malaria.
This process is called natural selection.
People who have one or two sickle-cell alleles have a
much higher resistance against malaria then those who
have two normal haemoglobin alleles.
7. Treatments?
Most treatments avoid crisis’ and pain, but do
not cure sickle-cell anaemia. Usually, doctors
prescribe
• Antibiotics-to avoid infection
• Pain relieving medications
There is a possible cure- bone marrow
transplant, however there is a risk of death in
this procedure.
