Sickle cell anemia is inherited in which pattern?

Sickle cell anemia is inherited in which pattern?

• A. Autosomal dominant
• B. X-linked recessive
• C. Autosomal recessive
• D. Mitochondrial inheritance

Answer: (C)

Sickle cell anemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. The disease occurs when an individual inherits two copies of the mutated beta-globin gene (one from each parent). Carriers have one mutated and one normal gene and usually show no symptoms. Because this gene is on an autosome, males and females are affected equally. When both parents are carriers, each pregnancy has a 25% chance of an affected child, a 50% chance of a carrier child, and a 25% chance of an unaffected child. It is not autosomal dominant, X-linked, or mitochondrial inheritance, which would produce different transmission patterns.

Sickle cell anemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. The disease occurs when an individual inherits two copies of the mutated beta-globin gene (one from each parent). Carriers have one mutated and one normal gene and usually show no symptoms. Because this gene is on an autosome, males and females are affected equally. When both parents are carriers, each pregnancy has a 25% chance of an affected child, a 50% chance of a carrier child, and a 25% chance of an unaffected child. It is not autosomal dominant, X-linked, or mitochondrial inheritance, which would produce different transmission patterns.