A newborn is born with sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease in which substitution of one amino acid results in abnormal hemoglobin. Explain to the parents how the substitution can have such a drastic effect on the structure of the protein.
2007-10-18 13:11:56 · 2 answers · asked by mike p 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
The substitution is glutamic acid to valine.So valine is hydrophobic and it maes the hemoglobin 'sticky".It causes the RBCs to stick together and clog the small capillaries.One could probably explain to the parents how scarmbling eggs or shaking milk in a bottle too much can 'denature them".This would highlight the importance of protein stability.Hemoglobin can't afford to get mutated coz it is a very vital protein and so even minor changes especially those that can change the structure of the protein can cause drastic effects in its functions
2007-10-18 15:25:00 · answer #1 · answered by mammaluv 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had already answered this question.
Aluminium and Mercury become Gold if atomic number is changed.
2007-10-20 04:45:46 · answer #2 · answered by J.SWAMY I ఇ జ స్వామి 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋