Final answer:
Hemoglobin C disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which requires two copies of the mutated gene for a child to express the disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mode of inheritance of Hemoglobin C disease is a bit different from the diseases mentioned in the reference material, which largely discuss X-linked recessive inheritance. Hemoglobin C disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. This means both parents must carry one copy of the mutated gene and pass it on to their child for the child to have the disease. If only one mutated gene is inherited, the child will be a carrier but typically will not show symptoms of the disease. Hemoglobin C disease is caused by a mutation in the beta-globin gene which leads to the production of hemoglobin C, an abnormal hemoglobin variant found mainly in West and North Africa. This variant is a genetic adaptation to malaria, providing some protective benefits against the disease, although it can cause clinical symptoms when two copies of the HbC gene are inherited.