Individuals who have sickle-cell anemia

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sickle-cell anemia is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. This means that an individual must inherit two copies of the mutated gene (or allele) responsible for the disease, one from each parent. Therefore, individuals with sickle-cell anemia have inherited the same allele from both parents.

Choice B is incorrect because individuals who are heterozygous for sickle-cell anemia (meaning they have one normal allele and one mutated allele) may have some symptoms of the disease but typically have milder symptoms and are not considered to have sickle-cell anemia.

Choice C is partially correct. Individuals with sickle-cell anemia are more resistant to malaria, not more susceptible. This is because the mutated hemoglobin that causes sickle-cell anemia also makes it difficult for the malaria parasite to survive inside red blood cells.

Choice D is incorrect. If an individual inherits two different alleles from their parents (meaning they have one normal allele and one mutated allele), they are a carrier for sickle-cell anemia, but they do not have the disease.

Choice E is also incorrect. Sickle-cell anemia is a genetic disorder and is not caused by being born with malaria.

Individuals Who Have Sickle-Cell Anemia