Thalassemia is a group of inherited blood disorders characterized by reduced production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. There are two main types:
- Alpha thalassemia: Caused by mutations in genes that produce alpha-globin chains.
- Beta thalassemia: Caused by mutations in genes that produce beta-globin chains.
The severity of thalassemia depends on the number of affected genes.
