Click here to play (This will launch in another window - 420k) At the moment, genetic counsellors can find out what diseases babies might be at risk from by investigating the family trees of the parents, as well as by conducting DNA tests. And in the future, we might well be consulting genetic counsellors just as often as we visit our doctors today. In this activity you play the role of a genetic counsellor. Your task is to investigate the family tree of a set of parents and search for the sickle cell anaemia gene, which is located on Chromosome 11. Don't worry if you don't know much about genetics or sickle cell yet - the thought bubble at the top of the page will give you step by step instructions and you will have constant access to a medical reference book. Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disorder which affects people from the African continent, as well as from many Mediterranean and South Asian countries. It can cause strokes, bruising, infections, ulcers and bone damage, as well as many other symptoms. We recommend that you read the help page before proceeding. There is also further information and sickle cell related links on the information page.
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