Sickle Cell Anemia: Autosomal Recessive Inheritance Explained

Sickle cell anemia is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. This means a child must inherit two copies of the mutated hemoglobin gene (HbS)—one from each parent—to develop the disease.

Inheritance Pattern

• Carriers (Trait): Individuals with one HbS gene and one normal gene (HbA) have sickle cell trait. They are usually asymptomatic but can pass the gene to offspring.
• Affected: Only those with two HbS genes (HbSS) have sickle cell anemia.
• Risk per Pregnancy: When both parents are carriers, each child has a 25% chance of having the disease, 50% chance of being a carrier, and 25% chance of inheriting two normal genes.

Genetic Counseling

Couples with a family history or known carrier status should consider genetic counseling before conception to understand risks and reproductive options.