Post #3926539

@CuriousMagpie@beige.party Ah, you might have the other one: Thallassemia. Both Thallassemia and Sickle Cell are hemoglobin mutations that are mostly okay and provide some protection against malaria if you just have the trait (gene from one parent), but are really bad if you have the disease (gene from both parents). Thallassemia is from non-Africans usually North of the Mediterranean. Sickle cell is from Africans usually South of the Mediterranean. Sicilians, ancient Greeks, Spaniards, Moroccans, Algerians, Egyptians, and some Turkish groups, are populations that can carry both genes. And double whammy: if you have one Sickle Cell gene from one parent, and one Thallassemia gene from the other, you get the downsides of both, but none of the Malaria protect benefits.🤷🏿‍♂️ The combo disease, called Sickle-Beta Thallassemia is not fun. Many North African families get screened for both genes before starting a family.