Maharashtra BoardEnglish MediumSTD 9ScienceHeredity and Variation5 Marks
Question
Sickle cell anaemia: symptoms and treatment.
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Answer
Sickle-cell anaemia is a hereditary disease caused due to mutation in a single gene. It is a monogenic disorder.
Normal haemoglobin has glutamic acid as the 6th amino acid in its molecular structure. However, if it is replaced by valine, the shape/structure of the haemoglobin molecule, changes.
Due to this, the erythrocytes (RBCs) which are normally biconcave become sickle-shaped. This condition is called sickle-cell anaemia. The oxygen-carrying capacity of haemoglobin in such individuals is very low.
In this condition, clumping and thereby, destruction of erythrocytes occurs most often. As a result, blood vessels are obstructed and the circulatory system, brain, lungs, kidneys, etc. are damaged.
Symptoms of sickle-cell anaemia are swelling of legs and hands, pain in joints, severe general body aches, frequent cold and cough, constant low-grade fever, exhaustion, pale face, low haemoglobin count.
A person suffering from sickle-cell anaemia should take a tablet of folic acid daily.
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