A Dummy’s Guide To SC Genotype

Ky Kelvin

To talk about SC genotype is to start with genotype as a whole. Genotype or blood genotype is an inherited set of genes of any living thing that grows, reproduces, and has at least a cell. These genes are transferred from parents to offspring, one from each parent. For example, a child can be AS because his mother is AA (from whom he got the A) and his father AS (from whom he got the S).

So AA, AS, and SS are the three popular genotypes in the market, or in our blood. But there are other less popular ones. The SC is a rare genotype that became popular when Big Brother Lockdown housemate and eventual winner, Laycon, hit the house. 

Speaking as though you’re a dummy, AA know is the normal genotype, the strong one; AS is known as the carrier of the sickle cell gene; the SS is the sickle cell genotype.

What is SC Genotype

Earlier we made reference to a dummy and you didn’t like it so this is the grammar definition of SC.

The SC genotype is inherited from the parents: S from one parent, and C from the other. The type of protein (Haemoglobin) that is in the red blood cells is determined by the blood genotype. It could be hemoglobin AA, AS, and SS, which are the common ones. Or Hemoglobin AC, CC, and SC, which are not as common as the first three.

The Hemoglobin combines with oxygen and helps to carry oxygen around the body in the red blood cell (RBC). The RBCs have a disc-like shape which enables them to travel through the smallest of blood vessels. This is the case if the individual is a homozygous dominant (AA) or has a sickle cell trait (AS, AC).

However, when a child is born with the hemoglobin SC (due to both parents having a sickle cell trait), the red blood cells are shaped like a crescent (sickle, crescent moon, banana, etc), which makes them prone to getting stuck in small blood vessels. Resulting in the blockage of blood from reaching certain parts of the body, causing damage to tissues and lots of pain to the host.

Haemoglobin SC is the second most common sickle cell disease, occurring when one inherits a C gene from one parent and an S gene from the other. SS is different from other sickle cell diseases but SC normally shows similar symptoms similar to SS.

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However, blockage of oxygen transfer through the blood is less severe. Note that not all sickle cell patients are SS, there are other types of sickle cell disease but SS is the most common.

Now, do you understand? Well, if you don’t understand we may have to unearth the dummy tactics.

Dummy explanation of SC

For one to be suffering sickle cell, it means their blood cell is shaped like a sickle or the crescent moon. Normal blood cell is shaped like a doughnut. Take a look.

Problems associated with sickle cell host include serious tiredness, swelling of hands and feet, pain in the chest, back, and limbs, Jaundice, irritation from anemia. Some suffer severe degeneration of the hip bones and end up being unable to walk.

SC is a less severe type of SS. It is the younger brother.

Can SS/SC be treated?

Although a lot of people die from sickle cell disease, the ailment is treatable. The late diagnosis and little or no awareness have left the general public with so many death cases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 150,000 babies in Nigeria are born with sickle cell disease in a year, with over 40 million carriers of the cell gene. Hemoglobin SC is common in the southeastern part of Nigeria and some parts of ghana.

Nigeria has the highest record of sickle cell diseases in the world.

One of the medications used to treat sickle cell disease is hydroxyurea, which increases fetal hemoglobin and decreases the number of attacks. Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is an optional cure for sickle cell disease but not everyone is a suitable candidate for the operation, and not often done due to the risk involved. Crizanlizumab, Voxelotor, and other pain-relieving medication can be used to reduce pain and its frequency.

Some hemoglobin SC never experiences any form of crisis. A lot of  SC genotype carriers don’t get to know they are carriers until after their thirties or during pregnancy. Some get to live a long healthy life like a homozygous dominant (AA). However, early diagnosis is encouraged, especially for the newborn to reduce the mortality rate.

It is believed that lack of awareness is the major reason behind the huge number of carriers of sickle cell disease. Couples should ensure they get tested and know their blood genotype before proceeding to marriage to avoid putting a child through the pain of sickle cell disease.

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