Hemochromatosis Essay

When people are being made, they receive genes passed down from multiple generations. Many of these genes can benefit the child being born, or can kill it. Through Meiosis the offspring receive two sets of genes, one from each parent. In human embryos, the child receives 23 chromosomes from each parent, equaling the 46 chromosomes in a regular body cell of a human. Parents can pass down traits for blonde hair, orange hair, brown eyes, blue eyes, and even the height for the offspring. Generations before the offspring can have diseases passed down to the offspring that can harm it. Most of the time evolution chooses against a disease, washing it out of the chromosomes, but in some cases certain diseases are still carried. Hemochromatosis is one of those diseases.

Hemochromatosis, originating in people of Western European descent, is a disease that is still carried in the chromosomes of humans. Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease that disrupts the way the body metabolizes iron. (Moalem, 2) A person who has hemochromatosis absorbs abundant amounts of iron. While mistaking the body for not having enough iron, it absorbs more that it needs, which causes piles of iron to form in the joints, muscles, and major organs. This buildup can cause liver failure, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, infertility, psychiatric disorders, and cancer. When discovered by Armand Trousseau in 1865, it was looked at as extremely rare. (Doctors Lounge, post) Later on in history, it was discovered that many people with western European descent either carried or expressed the hemochromatosis gene. Statistics show 1 in 4 people with western descent carry the gene for hemochromatosis, but only 200 people of western European descent express the gene. (Mo...

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.... People with hemochromatosis don’t get diseases like malaria either because their immune system is strong enough to withstand the bacteria. The human genes have kept hemochromatosis because although it can kill you over time, it can protect you from fast killing bacteria and from sicknesses that normal people can die from. Hemochromatosis has been passed down through parent genes and about 25% of western European descent people carry the gene.

Hemochromatosis although can be fatal also can be helpful in fighting disease. Dr. Sharon Moalem studied patients and the diseases reoccurring symptoms to come to a realization that although it’s harmful it’s staying in our genes because we might need it. Decades ago the Europeans needed it to fight the bubonic plaque and it kept some alive. Our chromosomes keep this because it’s easy to treat and can have many benefits.