Question

Write the difference between $\alpha -$ thalassemia and $\beta -$ thalassemia.

Answer 1

Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is composed of two alpha and two beta chains.

Alpha thalassemia is caused by reduced or absent synthesis of alpha globin chains, and beta thalassemia is caused by reduced or absent synthesis of beta globin chains.