Question

Thalassemic patients produce excess alpha or beta subunits of haemoglobin leading to impaired oxygen-binding capacity by their erythrocytes. How can it be determined as to which subunit is produced in excess?

Answer 1

Answer:

thalasemia is not caused because of excess of the haemoglobin sub unit .it is because of lack of haemoglobin subunit

Answer 2

Explanation:

Thalassemia can be of an alpha type and beta type. In case of an alpha type of thalassemia, there is a defect in the formation of an alpha chain, as a result, the beta chains are in excess or they dimerize and precipitate down.

Similarly, in beta-thalassemia, there is an abnormal beta chain so, the alpha chain either dimerizes or they form fetal hemoglobin. By X-ray crystallography study of the precipitated substances, the type of chain and hence, the type of thalassemia can be detected.