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What is Alpha Thalassemia, and how does the severity of this blood disorder vary based on genetic involvement?

Alpha thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder caused by reduced or absent production of alpha-globin chains, which are essential components of hemoglobin—the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells. The condition results from mutations or deletions in the four alpha-globin genes located on chromosome 16. The severity of alpha thalassemia depends on how many of these genes are affected.