Unit 2

Sickle-Cell Anemia

       

What is sickle-cell anemia, and what causes this this disease?  Why does this disease mostly affect African Americans?  I chose this topic because it’s a disease that I am not familiar with or known any one affected by this disorder. 

Sickle-cell anemia is an inherited disorder in which the red blood cells assume a sickle shape when the oxygen concentration is low.  People who inherit one sickle cell gene and one normal gene have sickle cell trait.  This trait can be passed on to their children.  There are many factors in determining if the trait will be passed on.  For example:

·         If both parents have this trait there is a 25% chance the trait will be passed on.

·         If one parent has this trait, there is a 50% chance the trait will be passed on.

People with disease are born with two sickle cell genes one from each parent.  If you have only one sickle cell gene, it’s call a trait.   Nearly 40% of the black populations have the sickle-cell trait.  1 in 500 African Americans is born with sickle-cell anemia and only 8% have sickle-cell trait.

Sickle-cell anemia is present at birth, but usually don’t show any symptoms until around 4 months of age.  The symptoms that usually occur are shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, coldness in the hands and feet.  Sometimes their skin will turn jaundice like color or even have pale skin or mucous membranes.

Currently bone marrow transplants are the only cure for sickle-cell anemia.  This procedure is not suitable for everyone.  Age, severity of the disease and donor availability play a role, bone marrow produces red blood cell curing the patient of sickle-cell anemia.

In my research on this disease, it’s upsetting to know that African Americans are mostly affected by this disease.  This puts a damper on trying to have a family and worry about this disease.  It would be beneficial for blood tests to be taken before starting a family

Sources

Sickle Cell Trait, Author, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/traits.html

March 27, 2013

Sickle Cell Anemia,

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sicklecellanemia.html

March 27, 2013

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Sickle Cell Anemia?

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca/signs.html

March 27, 2013

Cure for Sickle Cell Anemia, Author, Meghan Slocum,

http://www.ehow.com/about_5531141_cure-sickle-cell-anemia.html

March 27, 2013

   

1.        What one assignment or activity you performed in this unit are you the most proud of?

·         Flip-a-coin & genetics calculation lab

2.       What do you now understand best about the information in this unit?

·         Traits and Alleles

3.       What actions did you take for yourself to enhance learning or enjoyment of the material?

·         Viewed the videos and slideshows

4.        When did you feel most “connected” with the course?  Most distanced?   

·         Most connected ,Punnett squares.  Most distanced,  reading the genetic code of mRNA

5.       What could I offer you to help your understanding or enjoyment of the material?

·         More youtube videos

Value of Reproductive Cloning

What is cloning?  Cloning is the production of identical copies of a gene, a cell, or an organism. There are several types of cloning, therapeutic cloning, cloning of the cells from an embryo for the purpose of producing human stem cells, and human reproductive cloning, an adult human cell with the intent of producing a human body. 

Cloning is a very sensitive subject and some view it as morally and ethically wrong.   It should be a personal choice, but it affects our society and religious beliefs, whether you are for or against it, there will never be a mutual agreement on this subject, someone will always have a point of view on the subject.

The process of cloning is a difficult process and requires lots of research and money to develop a fool proof technique.  Scientists are ready to perform the biological engineering in cloning, but know there are moral issues involved in this study.   

Scientists generate clones by replacing the nucleus of an egg cell with that from another individual. Scientists have tried to clone human embryos, but are unsuccessful.  Human cloning is a very difficult process and will take many years of research in order to perfect.

On the other side, you will find an organization that is against this type of research. Human reproductive cloning is a conflict of liberties.  Many feel cloning will cause physical harm and lead to violations from this process, causing psychological harm.  Some scientists believe that it is up to the individual to agree upon the research.

Enacting a so-called ban from congress would accomplish absolutely nothing.  Banning the research would just put the scientists farther behind. If banning were illegal, there would be underground research conducted.  Cloning should not be political, but some feel it will either promote or hurt a political career.  Couples who are wanting to have a test tube baby would file law suits to protect their individual rights, and religious organizations would support the ban of cloning.

In my own personal opinion, I don’t mind either way if cloning is accepted or not.  I feel it is important for scientists to continue their research and find cures especially for the human body to heal from diseases.  The only thing I disagree upon is using animals for cloning experiments.  I feel it is not fair for the animals to be tested, but then if we do not have animals, how else would the testing be complete.

Sources

Cloning of a human, Author, Charles Q. Choi

http://www.ebscohost.com.proxy.yc.edu

March 4, 2013

Human reproductive cloning:  a conflict of liberties, Author, Joyce C. Havstad

http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.edu/ehost/delivery

March 4, 2013

Congress and cloning, Author, Wesley J. Smith

http://search.proquest.com.proxy.yc.edu

March 4, 2013