Question

What is sickle cell anaemia?

Answer 1

Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic blood disorder caused by an abnormal form of haemoglobin. In this disease, red blood cells become sickle-shaped due to a mutation where glutamic acid is replaced by valine at the sixth position of the β-globin chain of haemoglobin. This abnormal haemoglobin causes the red blood cells to distort into a sickle shape, leading to their breakdown and resulting in anaemia. The disorder manifests only in individuals who are homozygous recessive for the sickle cell gene. Additionally, heterozygous individuals (carriers) have some protection against malaria, as the malaria parasite cannot thrive in the sickled red blood cells.