Sickle Cell Gene Detection (DNA-based)

Sickle Cell Anemia is a common genetic disease that causes long rods in red blood cells, giving them a “sickled” appearance. These cells get stuck in small capillaries of the blood stream leading to oxygen deprivation that causes pain and organ damage. Sickle Cell Anemia is caused by a single point mutation in the hemoglobin gene that results in a faulty protein. In this experiment, your students will investigate the restriction enzyme that discriminates between HbA (normal) and HbS (disease) genes and perform a simulated test on a patient.