How does sickle-cell trait differ from disease?

Sickle-cell trait and sickle-cell disease are two different conditions that result from variations in the hemoglobin gene. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

Sickle-cell trait

* Definition: Sickle-cell trait is a condition in which a person carries one copy of the sickle-cell gene and one copy of the normal hemoglobin gene.

* Symptoms: People with sickle-cell trait typically do not have any symptoms. However, they can pass the sickle-cell gene on to their children.

* Inheritance: Sickle-cell trait is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This means that only one copy of the sickle-cell gene is needed to cause the condition.

Sickle-cell disease

* Definition: Sickle-cell disease is a condition in which a person carries two copies of the sickle-cell gene.

* Symptoms: People with sickle-cell disease experience a variety of symptoms, including:

* Anemia

* Painful episodes (called crises)

* Fatigue

* Shortness of breath

* Swelling of the hands and feet

* Frequent infections

* Delayed growth

* Vision problems

* Inheritance: Sickle-cell disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that two copies of the sickle-cell gene are needed to cause the condition.

Comparison of sickle-cell trait and disease

| Feature | Sickle-cell trait | Sickle-cell disease |

|---|---|---|

| Number of copies of sickle-cell gene | One | Two |

| Symptoms | Typically no symptoms | Variety of symptoms, including anemia, pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath |

| Inheritance | Autosomal dominant | Autosomal recessive |