- Sickle cell is a serious inherited blood disease.
- Many babies in Africa have this disease.
- The disease causes pain and health problems for children.
- Uganda now screens babies for sickle cell at birth.
- Screening in hospitals is free for newborns now.
- New gene therapies are approved in rich countries.
- These therapies use gene editing and cell treatment.
- The treatments are very expensive and not available locally.
- Local training and support are needed now.
Difficult words
- inherit — Passed from parents to a childinherited
- screening — Medical tests to find a disease early
- newborn — A baby who is just bornnewborns
- therapy — Medical treatment to help a sick persontherapies
- gene — Part of body that carries traits
- expensive — Costing a large amount of money
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you want newborn screening for your baby?
- Should local health workers get training and support?
- Do you think gene therapies are too expensive?
Related articles
Engineered bacteria produce tagatose sweetener
Tufts researchers engineered Escherichia coli to make tagatose, a rare sugar that can substitute for table sugar. They used a slime mold enzyme and another enzyme to convert glucose, producing higher yields; tagatose is low‑calorie and FDA‑recognized as safe.
Some processed foods may be addictive
Researchers say many ultraprocessed products — like snacks, sugary drinks and fast food — share addictive qualities with tobacco. The study urges a shift from blaming individuals toward policies that hold companies accountable for engineered, habit-forming foods.
Untreated Sleep Apnea Speeds Heart Aging and Raises Death Risk
A laboratory study using a long-term mouse model finds that untreated obstructive sleep apnea — recreated by repeated drops in oxygen during sleep — leads to faster cardiovascular aging and higher mortality. Researchers call for early screening and treatment.
Clock disruption speeds breast cancer in models
New research finds that repeating disruption of the body’s 24-hour clock changes breast tissue, weakens immune defenses and leads to faster, more aggressive breast cancer in experimental models. The study links altered light–dark schedules to worse outcomes.