Understanding Genes

Genes are the instructions that determine various characteristics and traits such as: eye and hair color or diseases such as Diabetes. We have two copies of every gene in our bodies. We receive one copy from our father and one copy from our mother at birth. There is now way to control which genes are passed from parents to children. the sickle gene (S) affects the red blood cells.

What is Sickle Cell Trait?

Sickle Cell Trait occurs when a person has one working gene (A) and one altered gene (S), they are also called a carrier. Sickle cell trait is not a disease. People with sickle cell trait cannot tell that they have it without being tested.

How is Sickle Cell Disease Inherited?

Sickle cell disease is inherited when a person receives an altered Sickle gene (S) from each of their "carrier" parents.

Carrier parents have a one-in-four chance of having an affected child and a one-in-two chance of having a child who is a "carrier". Carriers of sickle cell are not affected themselves because they have a working (A) gene as well as an altered gene.