A Change in the Blood Sickle cell anemia is a blood disease that is passed from parents to children. Many people suffer from sickle cell disease in the United States and around the world. These people present with a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from semi-severe to life-threatening problems, while others live with little or no recognizable symptoms. Sickle cell anemia is caused by a genetic mutation in the hemoglobin within red blood cells. The mutation occurs in the hemoglobin gene on chromosome 11. The mutation causes the red blood cell to deform into a rod-like shape similar to a farmer's sickle, hence the name. Shearing of red blood cells occurs when the cell polymerizes into rigid rods that alter their shape allowing them to become trapped in small blood vessels. (Laberge, p3) Sickle cell anemia can help reduce the patient's risk of malaria, as the sickle cells stain faster than the malaria can take effect. Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive disease. The chance of a newborn getting the disease depends on the parents and whether or not they have the trait or disease. If both parents have the disease or trait, the child has a 25% chance of having sickle cell disease. The child also has a 25% chance of not having the disease or characteristic at all. There is also a 50% chance that the child just has the trait, which causes no health problems but allows the disease to be passed on to the next generation. Sickle cell anemia can drastically affect someone's lifestyle in many ways. From early childhood and for the rest of your life, you will be at the mercy of modern medicine to relieve your pain and ward off infections. The disease is also life-threatening, people with this disease suffer from strokes,...... middle of paper ......int Problems - Impaired blood flow causes bone damage. This can occur in late childhood and can greatly affect joint movement with pain. Although the average lifespan of people with sickle cell disease is shorter than normal lifespan. They can still live productive lives with proper care and medical attention when needed. There is currently no cure for the disease, although modern medicine is getting better at easing pain and stopping symptoms. References Heterozygous superiority. (n.d.). In the world of biology. Retrieved from the Gale Science in Context database. (Accession no. CV2431500311) Sickle cell anemia. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2014, from the WebMD website: http://www.webmd.com/default.htmSickle cell disease. (2011). In The encyclopedia of medicine. Retrieved from the Gale Science in Context database. (Accession no. DU2601001701)