Genetic Disease

The reason for blood is red is that red blood cells carry a substance called hemoglobin, which has predominant function of transport oxygen to tissues, so all body tissues can provide energy for chemical reaction. However, for the people who have a genetic disease named Thalassemia, their hemoglobin is fragile and abnormal so that the amount of hemoglobin is not enough. As a result, the lake of hemoglobin causes a different type of anemia. This genetic disease is a kind of autosomal inheritance, and it's not related to sex-chromosomes. The root cause is the deletion or mutation of globin genes.

Several symptoms may occur on the person with Thalassemia, including anemia, weakness, internal caking, pale skin, protruding abdomen, dark urine and abnormal facial bones. This disease happens majorly when children were born and serious influence children's growth. The most serious Thalassemia leads to failure of visceral organ, especially cardiac damage. Eventually, children become delay neurodevelopment or even die when they are one or two years old. (Symptom of Thalassemia, Schoenstadt. A, July 19.2010)

Both of males and females can suffer from Thalassemia. It is a relatively common disease among all the genetic diseases. Famous tennis player Pete Sampras and professional football player Zinedine Zidane are both the minor patients of Thalassemia.