What is the inheritance pattern of Sickle Cell Anemia?

Sickle Cell Anemia is inherited in a recessive manner, which means that an individual must inherit two copies of the sickle cell gene mutation (one from each parent) for the disease to manifest. If a person inherits only one copy of the mutated gene, they are considered a carrier (often referred to as having sickle cell trait) but typically do not exhibit symptoms of the disease. This pattern aligns with other genetic disorders that follow a similar recessive inheritance model, where two copies of an altered gene are necessary for the expression of the disease phenotype.

Understanding this inheritance pattern is crucial in genetics and counseling, as it has implications for family planning and the risk of having affected offspring. Parents who are both carriers (sickle cell trait) have a 25% chance in each pregnancy of having a child with Sickle Cell Anemia, a 50% chance of having a child who is also a carrier, and a 25% chance of having a child with normal hemoglobin. This makes it vital for carriers to be aware of their genetic status, especially in populations where the disease is more prevalent.