Hemoglobin

Nothing is more complicated and more fascinating than our handy protein, hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the center of how we breathe, serves as the most important value on the CBC, and can go wrong.

To begin, it is essential to remember the chromosomes from which our beta globins and alpha globins come from: chromosomes 11 and 16.

What we can see below is that the beta-globin gene is close to other genes that result in the formation of HbF and HbA2—so these can give us clues to determine whether we are dealing with beta-thalassemia.

4 alphas and 2 betas form the protein, hemoglobin.

Qualitative disorders - abnormal hemoglobins (resulting in disease processes such as sickle cell).

Quantitative disorders - DECREASED PRODUCTION of hemoglobin - resulting in thalassemia.