BETA-THALLASSEMIA AND CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS

Beta-thalassemia is the most common hereditary disease in Iran and more than 2 million carriers of the β-thalassemia mutant gene are living in this country. About 110 mutant genes have been recognized all over the world of which 21 have been identified in the Iranian population. The mutant genes and their frequencies vary greatly in different parts of Iran. However, it seems that at least five more undetected mutant genes exist.