Exploring the Biology Behind Sickle Cell Disease
In this short video from the Sickle Cell Genetics Digital Lab, we introduce students to sickle cell disease: a relatively common genetic disorder caused by a straightforward molecular change.
A single base-pair mutation leads to a dramatic and observable change in red blood cell shape. Because it so clearly links genotype to phenotype, sickle cell disease has long been a staple topic in high school biology, offering a powerful way to connect core concepts like inheritance, mutation, and cellular physiology to a real-world condition with serious human consequences.
Bringing genetics to your classroom
Our Sickle Cell Genetics Learning Lab builds on this foundation by giving students a hands-on way to investigate the genetics behind the disease using gel electrophoresis. Or try our fully virtual Sickle Cell Genetics Digital Lab, which offers an accessible alternative that can be used on its own or alongside the hands-on experiment.
