What would happen if your red blood cells were shaped differently than those of your friends?  If this were the case, you might have sickle cell anemia.  Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder involving one’s blood, specifically the shape of the red blood cells.  These sickle-shaped blood cells, which differ from normal disc-shaped blood cells, can cause blood clots, sometimes resulting in painful experiences called “sickle cell pain crises.”  Sickle cell anemia is a disorder which is most prominent in African Americans, affecting almost one in 500.