Genetic disease

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Genetic disease - Sickle Cell Anemia (PH 1015) (pp. 17-18)
(Be able to identify the slide of sickle cell anemia; differentiate between normal blood and blood with sickle cell anemia.)

While many of the red blood cells have the normal donut appearance of biconcave discs, notice that some are irregular in shape, often looking like grains of rice or sickles (hence the name). Move the slide slightly, looking at individual normal and sickle cells. As body oxygen level decreases, more and more cells change from normal to sickle shape, blocking small blood vessels. The sickle cells are also more fragile and break apart quickly causing anemia.

Normal blood (400X2.8)                                                                   Sickle cell anemia (400X2.8)

Normal round RBCs and one WBC (blue cell)                      Some normal round RBCs, many pointed "sickle-shaped"
                                                                                                      RBCs

* What is the cause of sickle cell anemia?

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This material may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in any data base or retrieval system without prior written permission is obtained from Augustine G. DiGiovanna, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801.