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A blood condition seen most commonly in people of African ancestry. The disorder is caused by a single base pair change in one of the genes that codes for hemoglobin, the blood protein that carries oxygen. This mutation causes the red blood cells to take on a sickle shape, rather than their characteristic donut shape. Individuals who suffer from sickle cell disease are chronically anemic and experience significant damage to their heart, lungs, and kidneys.
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