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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. savanna
    a flat grassland in tropical or subtropical regions
    At the time, this was not a desert; it was a green belt of savannas, woodlands, lakes, and rivers.
  2. thrive
    make steady progress
    Bands of hunter-gatherers thrived there, catching fish and spearing hippos.
  3. hemoglobin
    a red protein in blood that transports oxygen
    A genetic mutation had altered the child’s hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that ferries oxygen through the body.
  4. ferry
    transport from one place to another
    A genetic mutation had altered the child’s hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that ferries oxygen through the body.
  5. descendant
    a person considered as coming from some ancestor or race
    As the greenery turned to desert, the descendants of the hunter-gatherers became cattle-herders and farmers and moved to other parts of Africa.
  6. endure
    continue to exist
    The mutation endured over generations, and for good reason.
  7. mutate
    undergo a change or alteration in form or qualities
    People who carried one mutated gene were protected against one of the biggest threats to humans in the region: malaria.
  8. malaria
    a disease caused by parasites transmitted by mosquito bite
    People who carried one mutated gene were protected against one of the biggest threats to humans in the region: malaria.
  9. defective
    not working properly
    As a result, their red blood cells took on a sickle shape and became defective, and this led to clogged blood vessels.
  10. condition
    an illness, disease, or other medical problem
    The condition, now known as sickle cell anemia, leads to extreme pain, difficulty with breathing, kidney failure, and even strokes.
  11. anemia
    a deficiency of red blood cells
    The condition, now known as sickle cell anemia, leads to extreme pain, difficulty with breathing, kidney failure, and even strokes.
  12. stroke
    a loss of consciousness from the lack of oxygen in the brain
    The condition, now known as sickle cell anemia, leads to extreme pain, difficulty with breathing, kidney failure, and even strokes.
Created on Tue Jun 18 09:46:10 EDT 2019 (updated Thu Jun 20 14:53:18 EDT 2019)

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