Sickle Cell (Rough Draft) Sickle cell anemia is a blood disease that causes badly formed red blood cells. The disease is genetec. Mostly people from Africa or other coutries around the Mediterraean Sea get it. In the United States, African-Americans are most likely to have it (Howard, 1995).

Red blood cells are the blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. When a person has sickle-cell anemia the hemoglobon in the cell is shaped wrong. Because of this the cells are not round but sickle-shaped, which is how the disease gets its name. Sometimes these cells stick together and interfere with blood flow. This is very painful but also causes medical problems. It can cause damage to organs and keep the body from receiving the oxygen it needs to function well. It also leaves the person likely to get lung infections (Howard, 1995).

Although sickle-cell anemia is genetec, both parents have to carry the gene for the child to get the disease. In the United States, one in every 12 African-Americans carries a gene for the disease, and about 1,000 babies are born each year with sickle cell anemia. One in twelve carriers is a high number, but there is a reason for it. If a person has only one gene, they have the "sickle cell trait." Having the trait rarely makes any problems, but makes it much less...

Malaria is common in Africa, and those who had the sickle cell trait had good protection from this serious disease (Loupe, 199). Because of this, people with the sickle cell trait were more likely to survive and reproduce.
Unusual practices arose in Africa because of sickle cell anemia. In the disease, it can affect the growth of the hands, and many people with sickle cell anemia often have at least one finger that is shorter than it should be. It can also interfere with the growth of arms and legs. Unfortunately, children born with sickle cell pneumia sometimes die from pneumonia or other diseases because they aren't as able to fight the illness off (Loupe, 199).

The problem with the hemoglobon cell occurs when the cell releases its oxygen somewhere in the body. When the oxygen releases, it leaves a kind of bump on the surface of the cell that can catch on other cells, causing the small vessel to block as the deformed cells continut to catch on each other. When they lock together they become rigid and block further blood flow (Loupe, 199).

This transforms flexible, smooth, doughnut-shaped red blood cells into stiff, sticky, curved cells that clog small blood vessels. The circulatory traffic jam can lead…