How is sickle cell trait different from sickle cell disease?

How is sickle cell trait different from sickle cell disease?

• A. Both have the same symptoms.
• B. Sickle cell trait is typically asymptomatic with one normal hemoglobin gene.
• C. Sickle cell disease has more than one normal hemoglobin gene.
• D. Sickle cell trait leads to severe symptoms.

Answer: (B)

Sickle cell trait differs from sickle cell disease primarily in the presence and expression of hemoglobin genes. Individuals with sickle cell trait possess one normal hemoglobin gene and one mutated gene responsible for sickle hemoglobin (HbS). As a result, they typically do not exhibit symptoms associated with sickle cell disease because the normal hemoglobin is sufficient to function effectively in most physiological conditions. In contrast, individuals with sickle cell disease have two copies of the hemoglobin gene that produce HbS, which leads to the characteristic symptoms of the disease, including pain crises, anemia, and increased risk of infections due to the sickle-shaped red blood cells. The trait is often identified through newborn screening and is considered a benign condition, which is why it is asymptomatic in most cases. This understanding clarifies the distinction between the two conditions: sickle cell trait is indeed asymptomatic due to the presence of one normal hemoglobin gene, while sickle cell disease is characterized by symptoms resulting from abnormal red blood cell function caused by the two copies of the mutated gene.

Sickle cell trait differs from sickle cell disease primarily in the presence and expression of hemoglobin genes. Individuals with sickle cell trait possess one normal hemoglobin gene and one mutated gene responsible for sickle hemoglobin (HbS). As a result, they typically do not exhibit symptoms associated with sickle cell disease because the normal hemoglobin is sufficient to function effectively in most physiological conditions.

In contrast, individuals with sickle cell disease have two copies of the hemoglobin gene that produce HbS, which leads to the characteristic symptoms of the disease, including pain crises, anemia, and increased risk of infections due to the sickle-shaped red blood cells. The trait is often identified through newborn screening and is considered a benign condition, which is why it is asymptomatic in most cases.

This understanding clarifies the distinction between the two conditions: sickle cell trait is indeed asymptomatic due to the presence of one normal hemoglobin gene, while sickle cell disease is characterized by symptoms resulting from abnormal red blood cell function caused by the two copies of the mutated gene.