If both parents carry the sickle cell trait (SCT), then their child has a 25% chance of being born with sickle cell disease (SCD) and a 50% chance of having SCT.[1]
Sickle cell disease is a disease with global spread, although people of different ancestry are unequally affected. The incidence of SCD is higher among people of African, South American, Central American, Indian, Mediterranean, and Arabian Peninsular ancestry.[2]
Research has indicated that these regions, historically impacted by malaria or experiencing significant migration from malaria-endemic countries, often exhibit a higher prevalence of SCT in the population. It seems that SCT offers a protective effect against malaria, and the body developed this genetic mutation as a defense mechanism against the disease. Individuals with SCT can still contract malaria, but they have an increased likelihood of survival. In contrast, individuals with sickle cell disease experience more severe effects from the disease.[3][4]
References
- ^What is Sickle Cell Trait?: CDC(December 14, 2020)
- ^Sickle Cell Disease: MedlinePlus
- ^Piel FB, Patil AP, Howes RE, Nyangiri OA, Gething PW, Williams TN, Weatherall DJ, Hay SIGlobal distribution of the sickle cell gene and geographical confirmation of the malaria hypothesis.Nat Commun.(2010-Nov-02)
- ^Luzzatto LSickle cell anaemia and malaria.Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis.(2012)