Do you truly love him/her, what's your Genotype?

What is a Genotype?

A genotype is the entire genetic constitution of an individual, i.e. the genetic makeup of an organism or group of organisms with reference to a single trait, set of traits, or an entire complex of traits. In a nutshell: your genotype is your complete heritable genetic identity; the sum total of genes transmitted from parent to offspring. No two human beings are the same. People could bear some form of resemblance, look-alike, act the same, perhaps talk the same, but in reality, no two people are absolutely identical. The genotype is the biological coding that ensures this specificity, uniqueness, and individuality.

Why it’s Important to Know Your Genotype

Knowing one's hemoglobin genotype before choosing a life partner is important because there may be compatibility issues which could have devastating effects when it comes to conception. If avoided from the beginning it will save us a lot of stress and money. Intending couples sharing information about each other’s blood genotype and blood group serve as an important forecasting guide for offspring’s genotype, quality of life & overall health.

True life story. a friend of mine, she is a medical laboratory scientist; we had a conversation and she told me her family experience because of her parent not checking their genotype before marriage. Her parent gave birth to seven children and only two survive. So, most times everything may not be spiritual as most Africans thinks but the issue of not knowing our genotype and marrying someone with incompatible genotype causes more arm than good.

Types of genotype

There are five (5) distinct types of blood genotype. They are AA, AS, AC, SS, and SC. While the first 2 pairs (AA & AS) are normal, AC is rare and the latter two (SS, SC) are abnormal, these two causes sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease causes pain and damage vital organs.

The AA genotype has the best compatibility ratio. If you are AA you are good to go and can marry any other genotype. You are likely going to have an extremely minimal possibility of sickle-celled offspring. AA genotype are most susceptible to malaria.

Genotype compatibility

Before marriage, it is advisable that couple have pre-knowledge of their genotype status in other to prevent tears in their marriage. Kindy see the combination of genotype below to give you a clearer picture when it comes to choosing a life partner;

Combination:   Give Birth to

AA + AA =         AA, AA, AA, AA (Excellent)

AA + AS =         AA, AS, AA, AS, (Good)

AA + SS =         AS, AS, AS, AS, (Fair)

AA + AC =         AA, AA, AA, AC. (Good)

AS + AS =          AA, AS, AS, SS, (Very Bad)

AS + SS =           AS, SS, SS, SS, (Very Bad)

AS + AC =          AA, AC, AS, SS. (Bad; Advice needed)

SS + SS =            SS, SS, SS, SS, (Very Bad)

AC + SS =            AS, AS, SS, SS, (Very Bad)

AC + AC =            AA, AC, AC, SS. (Bad; Advice needed)

From all indication, The AS and AC genotype is best compatible with the AA remameber AC is rare. AA can marry anybody, AS and any other combincation is too risky, most times its only God that make it come out positive,

Note Two sickle cells = avoid conception (ie, don't give birth) to avoid future crisis

Sickle cell anaemia

It is an abnormal haemoglobin also know as sickle cell Anemia : A condition in which the blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. Anaemia results from a lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body. This leads to reduced oxygen flow to the body's organs. The only advantage of these people is that they don't get sick of malaria.

As stated earlier, individuals with sickle cells experience severe pains in body parts where oxygen flow is compromised due to blockage in the blood vessels,

Sickle cell anaemia (or sickle cell disease aka SCD) in the world.

Every year, more than 150 000 babies are born with this serious condition. Also alarming is the estimation that only 5% of the affected babies in Nigeria live passed the age of 10 (in UK and USA over 96% of sufferers survive into adulthood). Those with SCD often struggle with education, employment and psychological development due to chronic pain and other complications associated with the disease.

Symptoms of Sickle Cell Anemia/Disease

The main symptom is recurrent episodes of pain, called crises. The pain is caused by the sickle-shaped red blood cells blocking blood flow to the chest, abdomen and joints. The intensity of the pain varies, but it can last for hours or even weeks. Other symptoms include: painful swelling of hands and feet, frequent infections, delayed growth, vision problems.

In conclusion, it is advisable to make the right decidion before you make that marriage vows. It is not a good moment to watch our loveones in pains because of the wrong decidion we have made, please lets avoid our kids going through such pain, please lets join hands together and create an awareness for a better healthy society. Please before it goes deeper in love, go and know your blood group.

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