Sickle-Cell Anemia

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Sickle-Cell Anemia is an inherited, chronic blood disease in which the body produces abnormally shaped red blood cells. When the blood cells become crescent/sickle shaped, they are unable to deliver adequate amounts of oxygen to other cells. Also, these unusual “sickle” cells block blood pathways to the limbs and organs, limiting the amount of blood flowing throughout the body. It causes pain, organ damage, and anemia (low blood count). Unfortunately, however, when sufferers are born with this disease, they live life knowing it is incurable.

In Sickle-Cell Anemia, the 11th chromosome is affected, and thus, causes the disorder. In addition, this disease is autosomal, and not sex-linked. It is also codominant, which means neither allele dominates. Symptoms of Sickle-Cell Anemia include Hand-Foot syndrome, fatigue, breathlessness, rapid heart rate, delayed growth and puberty, susceptibility to infections, ulcers on the lower legs, jaundice, attacks of abdominal pain, weakness, joint pain, fever, vomiting, bloody urination, excessive thirst, chest pain, and decreased fertility. However...

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