The Thalassemias

The thalassemias are a heterogeneous group of
diseases caused by decreased or absent formation
of a globin chain. The thalassemias occur
predominantly in the Mediterranean region,
parts of Africa, and Southeast Asia (the word
thalassemia is derived from thalassa, the Greek
word for sea). In these regions, they are a significant
cause of morbidity and mortality, but they
are frequent because heterozygotes are protected
from severe malarial infection