Which demographic is most commonly affected by sickle cell disease?

Prepare for the Bodalia Exam with engaging quiz questions. Explore multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations to boost your readiness. Aim for success!

Multiple Choice

Which demographic is most commonly affected by sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is most common in people of African descent because the sickle cell gene is more prevalent in populations from sub-Saharan Africa, a pattern shaped over many generations by malaria. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive way, meaning a person must inherit two copies of the mutated gene to have the disease; carriers with one mutated gene can have some protection against malaria, which helped spread the gene in those regions. Because the HbS allele is much less common in Native American, Asian, and European populations, the disease occurs far less frequently in those groups.

Sickle cell disease is most common in people of African descent because the sickle cell gene is more prevalent in populations from sub-Saharan Africa, a pattern shaped over many generations by malaria. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive way, meaning a person must inherit two copies of the mutated gene to have the disease; carriers with one mutated gene can have some protection against malaria, which helped spread the gene in those regions. Because the HbS allele is much less common in Native American, Asian, and European populations, the disease occurs far less frequently in those groups.

More practice questions