Genotype is one area that has caused a lot of issues in impending marriages over the years. Couples do not take the time to find out their genotype compatibility, and then, when they eventually do, some end the relationship, and others, unwisely, still go into it expecting a miracle.
We are in a modern age, and it would be a shame if this sort of thing happened to you. Hence, you’d better prevent it before it happens.
Here is everything to know about genotype:
What is a genotype?
Your genotype is your complete heritable genetic identity; it is your unique genome that would be revealed by personal genome sequencing. However, the word “genotype” can also refer just to a particular gene or set of genes carried by an individual.
For example, if you carry a mutation that is linked to diabetes, you may refer to your genotype just with respect to this mutation without consideration of all the other gene variants that you may carry.
ALSO READ: #WorldSickleCellDay: Here Are 7 Important Facts To Know About The Disease
- Check out this chart to know which genotypes match
- AA + AA = AA, AA, AA, AA
- AA + AS = AA, AS, AA, AS,
- AA + SS = AS, AS, AS, AS,
- AA + AC = AA, AA, AA, AC.
- AS + AS = AA, AS, AS, SS,
- AS + SS = AS, SS, SS, SS,
- AS + AC = AA, AC, AS, SS.
- SS + SS = SS, SS, SS, SS,
- AC + SS = AS, AS, SS, SS,
- AC + AC = AA, AC, AC, SS.
Based on the table above, you can see that a person with the genotype AA can marry across. There’s no risk of having a sicker child even when he or she marries an SS. An AA genotype person marrying an SS can only result in AS children. There’s no hope of having a child with the genotype AA. But there’s no danger either.
Someone with the genotype AS should only marry someone with the genotype AA because if AS marries another AS, there’s one out of 4 chances (AS, AS, AA, and SS) that they will have a child with the sickle-cell disease. The same applies when AC is combined. AC and AS combined will produce AA, AS, AC, SC; the sickle-cell disease will be SC.
Of course, there are many cases where two abnormals were combined, that is, an AS and AS or AC and AC or AC and AS couple, and had up to five or six children without a single sicker among them. But there is no need to risk it? What if you’re not so lucky?
Would you forgive yourself when you end up having a child with sickle-cell disease and put the child through the agony the disease brings when you could have easily avoided it by doing a genotype and blood group compatibility test? We think not.
Compatible genotypes for marriage are:
AA marries an AA. That’s the best compatibility. That way, you save your future children from having to worry about genotype compatibility in the future.
AA marries an AS. You’ll end up with kids with AA and AS, which is good. But sometimes, if you’re not lucky, all the kids will be AS.
AS and AS should not marry; you already know what it can lead to.
AS and SS shouldn’t think of marrying.
And definitely, SS and SS must not marry since there’s absolutely no chance of not having a child with the sickle-cell disease.
Solution
The only thing that can change the genotype is an intentional act, like a bone marrow transplant (BMT). It has been proven to be the only permanent cure for SS, SC, and CC; however, it is new, very expensive, and cannot be done in any part of Africa. It also carries some risks. Naturally, the environment or time cannot change the genotype.
Divine miracles can change it as well—it has happened in so many parts of the world. Again, some SS carriers may start experiencing a crisis at a late age (as late as the 40s). If this set of people does a test in a quack lab, the lab technician would definitely assume AA or AS since the person is not showing the symptoms. Later in life, it will become obvious when the symptoms start appearing.
