👤 whose
Whose work first mapped the structure of hemoglobin and linked it to sickle-cell disease?
Human BiologyGenetics
Quick Answer
Linus Pauling’s group showed in 1949 that sickle-cell disease is a “molecular disease” caused by an abnormal hemoglobin. The structure of hemoglobin was later worked out in detail by others.
The Full Story
Linus Pauling and his collaborators, notably Harvey Itano, found in 1949 that sickle-cell disease differs from normal hemoglobin at the molecular level. This was the first clear demonstration that a disease could be caused by an altered protein structure, giving rise to the idea of a “molecular disease.” Later work determined the precise amino-acid change in hemoglobin S. Pauling’s findings opened the door to molecular medicine and modern genetic diagnosis.
Key Facts
1.The landmark sickle-cell paper was published in 1949
2.Sickle-cell disease is caused by a mutation in the HBB gene
3.Hemoglobin carries oxygen in red blood cells
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The disease that proved one tiny protein change can matter"