1. A blood disorder Ray Rega, Ryan Molter, Ryan Kosciolek

2. A blood disorder that causes red blood cells to: - Elongate -Clog arteries Blood cells are shaped like “Sickles,” or a crescent shape

3. Normal blood cells can survive up to 120 days Sickled blood cells can only live 10 to 20 days, and the bone marrow can not make enough cells to keep up. Anemia is a disease where the person has a lower number of red blood cells than normal. Most common inherited blood disorder:  70,000 to 80,000 Americans affected.  1 in 500 African Americans affected.  1 in 1000 Hispanic Americans affected.

4. Blood cells become stiff and sticky which causes unnecessary clotting. Pain in any organ or joint. More susceptible to other diseases. Clotting causes serious infection, organ damage, and strokes.

5. Other symptoms include: – Shortness of breath – Dizziness – Headaches – Coldness in the hands and feet – Paler than normal skin or mucous membranes (the tissue that lines your nose, mouth, and other organs and body cavities) – Jaundice (a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes) – Sometimes swelling of the hands and feet.

6. No cure Some treatments can help, such as Blood and Marrow stem cell transplants Most people with this disease are living to their forties, fifties, and higher.

7. Sickle Cell Anemia is inherited Life long From birth Two genes for sickle Hemoglobin, one from each parent.

8. If one parent gives a gene for sickle Hemoglobin, and the other gives a normal gene, then… They have what is called Sickle Cell Trait This is not the same as Sickle Cell Anemia. It means that the person caries one trait of the disease. Sickle Cell Anemia is due to a mutation in the HBB gene, which causes the hemoglobin to become deformed. Is a recessive trait.

9. Bibliography "Sickle Cell Anemia, What Is." National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. US Department of Health and Human Services, Feb. 2011. Web. 01 June 2011.. "Sickle Cell Disease - Genetics Home Reference." Genetics Home Reference - Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions. National Library of Medicine, 30 May 2011. Web. 01 June 2011..