+Pre-Lab Questions after Background Information

1.) The author spends so much time talking about beta-globin, as the mutation in the
amino acid causes two hydrophobic valine amino acids to be present on each
hemoglobin protein. While this doesn’t change the shape/function of the protein
at first, it causes a domino effect as the hydrophobic valine amino acids stick
together and form long chains inside the red blood cells, causing sickle cell
disease.
2.) It is problematic because the hydrophilic valines are not where they are
supposed to be. As a result, they begin to stick and form long chains that cause
many of the adverse effects associated with sickle cell disease.
3.) The amino acids we expect to be customarily found shielded from water in the
final three three-dimensional structures of the protein would be the hydrophobic
amino acids, specifically valine and leucine. The amnio acids surrounding the
water are hydrophilic ones such as HIstidine, Threonine, Proline, Glutamic Acid,
and Lysine.
4.) The main reason they are anemic is due to the function of the spleen. The spleen
is designated to flush out/get rid of the old & damaged red blood cells from the
blood cells. Sickle cells passing through the spleen may be recognized as
abnormal and are removed from the body, courteous of the spleen. This lowers a
person’s average lifespan of red blood cells and the overall red blood cell count,
making the person anemic.
5.) Going back to the hydrophobic valine amino acids that stick together. This is
because individuals with sickle cell disease have two hydrophobic balines on
each hemoglobin protein, located on the opposite sides of the protein. This
means that the hemoglobin begins to form long chains that distort the red blood
cell shape (hence the sickle cell name due to this sickle-like shape). The
distorted shape can cause cells to be stuck in capillaries, and these blockages
are extremely painful,
6.) Sickle cell patients are more susceptible to infections as the spleen works
overtime, flushing out the mutated hemoglobin. Doing so causes it to get
damaged from sickling events, leading to reduced spleen function. Since the
spleen is central to the immune system, when it gets weakened, increased rates
of infections will occur.
7.) Sickling will more likely occur when the cell is low in oxygen as the sickling of red
blood cells becomes more pronounced. This can lead to various complications,
including pain crises, organ damage, and increased risk of infections.
Pre-Lab: Questions after reading family medical histories

8.) Both Jacqueline and Cory are of primarily African descent, meaning they have a higher
chance of having the sickle cell anemia trait somewhere in their ancestry.

9.) No, this situation is not possible because both parents must both carry the sickle cell trait in
order for their child to have sickle cell anemia. This is because sickle cell is a recessive disease.

10.) If Marie has sickle cell disease, this means that Cory and Jacqueline both carry the sickle
cell gene.

Questions using Punnett Squares and Pedigree analysis

Sickle cell and malaria questions

1. The middle region of Africa has the highest rates of the HbS allele, including
more of the West side of the continent.
2. Map A and Map B have correlated data because the areas with the
highest rates of HbS allele frequency also have
the highest percentages of 2 to 10 year olds infected with the parasite
 responsible for Malaria.
3. Yes, sickle cell would be a concern in African American populations because
the biggest risk for sickle cell anemia is
ancestry. It is very likely that sickle cell anemia is present in the ancestry of some of the
individuals in these populations.
4. In areas where Malaria is less prevalent, having sickle cell anemia is more
of a disadvantage rather than an advantage. This is because there is no other benefit for
thinner blood, and sickle cell anemia has other side effects.
5. The HbS allele is likely more common in populations where malaria is present.

Extension: Calculating with Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Lab: Questions during blueGel™ run

1. Jacqueline is a carrier, Cory is a carrier, Marie has the disease, and Samuel is normal.
2. They turned out green because we put dye in before putting in the DNA.
Post-Lab: Questions after DNA visualization

2. Jacqueline, and Cory are carriers.

Marie has sickle cell disease
Samuel is normal

3. A band being thicker than others means that there is more DNA activity going on in the
specific area. Depending on this, the DNA sample will either contain sickle cell disease or not,
or may be a carrier. We can tell the difference through the blanks between each band,
separating nucleotides.
Hardy Weinberg-