1.Previous
3.Next

This substitution creates a hydrophobic spot on the outside of the protein that sticks to the hydrophobic region of an adjacent hemoglobin molecule's beta chain. This further causes clumping of HbS molecules into rigid fibers, causing "sickling" of the entire red blood cells in the homozygous (HbS/HbS) condition. The homozygous allele has become one of the deadliest genetic factors, whereas people heterozygous for the mutant allele (HbS/HbA) are resistant to malaria

1.Previous
3.Next