Genetic Cause

Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. The hemoglobin “S” gene is found in the Region 15.5 on the short arm of the chromosome 11. The presence of two faulty genes is necessary for sickle cell anemia. If each parent carries one sickle hemoglobin gene and one normal gene, each child has a 25% chance of inheriting the disease, a 25% of not inheriting it, and a 50% chance of being an unaffected carrier.