Taylor’s parents have never been tested for sickle cell disease because they have never had any of the common signs or symptoms. Knowing that Taylor has sickle cell disease, which of the following statements is true? A: This disease trait skips generations and neither of his parents is a carrier for the SCD gene. B: Both of Taylor’s parents carry the gene for SCD. C: Taylor’s mother carries the gene for SCD and his father does not. D: Taylor’s father carries the gene for SCD and his mother does not.

Taylor’s parents have never been tested for sickle cell disease because they have never had any of the common signs or symptoms. Knowing that Taylor has sickle cell disease, which of the following statements is true?
A: This disease trait skips generations and neither of his parents is a carrier for the SCD gene.
B: Both of Taylor’s parents carry the gene for SCD.
C: Taylor’s mother carries the gene for SCD and his father does not.
D: Taylor’s father carries the gene for SCD and his mother does not.

Answer

• B: Both of Taylor’s parents carry the gene for SCD.
  Explanation:
  Sickle cell anemia is a recessive disorder which means it doesn’t affect every person that inherits the gene, rather, affects only individuals who inherit two copies of the gene from each parent. For the child to have the condition, both parents must have the gene for sickle cell anemia, which makes the parents disease carriers, but the child shows disease traits.