Short overview of the genetic diseases Huntingdon's Chorea and Sickle Cell Anaemia

Huntingdon's Chorea 1.<Tab/>Genetic Causes: The gene that causes the disease is found at the tip of chromosome-4. It leads to damage to some of the nerve cells in the brain. It is not known what the gene's usual function is and how it causes the disease. <Tab/>The disease is caused by a dominant gene: therefore anyone who has the carrier gene gets the disease; and …

…state of their haemoglobin). However, modern medical care has meant that the disease actually now has only a small effect on life expectancy for the average sufferer. 4. Treatment: No treatment is required between crises. A crisis is treated with fluids, oxygen, antibiotics and painkillers. The destruction of red blood cells in a crisis can cause a severe anaemia, which may need to be treated with a blood transfusion. Sufferers need to be immunised against pneumonia.