Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder where red blood cells become stiff and sickle-shaped, blocking blood flow and damaging organs. It occurs when someone inherits two sickle cell genes, one from each parent. People with one sickle cell gene have sickle cell trait and do not have the disease but can pass the gene to their children. More than 70,000 Americans have sickle cell anemia and about 2 million have sickle cell trait. It is particularly common among African Americans, affecting about 1 in 12.