Introduction to Malaria and Sickle Cell Anemia

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to malaria, the life cycle of the plasmodium parasite, cell division, and the genetics of sickle cell anemia.

Haploid

An organism or cell having only one complete set of chromosomes.

Diploid

An organism or cell having two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Mitosis

A type of cell division where one cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

Lysis

The breaking down or bursting of a cell.

Gametes

Sex cells (sperm and egg) that combine during fertilization.

Zygote

A fertilized egg formed by the union of male and female gametes.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four haploid cells.

Quaternary Structure

The structure formed by the assembly of multiple polypeptide chains into a single functional protein.

Sickle Cell Trait

The genotype where an individual has one sickle hemoglobin allele and one normal allele.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Endemic

A disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.

Alleles

Different versions of a gene that may produce distinguishing traits in an organism.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

Phenotype

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.

Anemia

A condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in a reduced ability to carry oxygen.