Emergence of sickle cell gene through migration and intermarriage: A case study

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inheritable disorder which is very common among persons of equatorial regions including Africa. The evolution of SCD is linked to malaria endemicity in which sickle cell traits are selected for against malaria and therefore perpetuate the gene to the next generations. In this study we present the pedigree of a family from Ibanda (then sub-county of Mbarara district) which represents the intermarriage between Baganda migrants and Banyankole ‘natives’. The possibility of the emergence of SC anemia in this family through migration and gene admixture is therefore explored