Our body is governed by our genes. Our genes specify what type of proteins should be produced by our cells, and proteins are responsible for almost everything in our body. Each protein has three dimensional shape; proteins’ shape indicate their job in the body.
DNA has the information to to make proteins, and proteins are responsible for almost everything in our body ( from : http://www.flyfishingdevon.co.uk/salmon/year3/psy339evaluation-evolutionary-psychology/evaluation-evolutionary-psychology.htm )
In this blog I would like to talk about a genetic condition, called Thalassemia which so many people in the world have it and simply are not aware of it. In people with Thalassemia, the shape of their hemoglobin protein in some of their red blood cells is different because in their body the genes that have the information for hemoglobin production have been altered. Therefore, since shape of a protein specifies its functionality, hemoglobin becomes inefficient in transferring oxygen.(http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Thalassemia/)
shape some of the red blood cells in people with Thalassemia is oval or sickle shape( from :http://www.islamicboard.com/health-science/134270536-medical-student-review-2.html )
Thalassemia has two version of minor and major. Thalassemia minor in most cases does show significant signs or symptoms, that is why so many people may have it and are not aware of it. However people with major Thalassemia require advanced medical care and mostly they do not live very long.( http://www.medicinenet.com/beta_thalassemia/article.htm )
According to Dr. Greenberg this condition is often mistaken by iron deficiency in the nutrition. The reason is that hemoglobin in people with Thalassemia is not capable of utilizing enough iron because of its faulty protein structure, as a result, their blood tests show lower amount of iron compared to normal range. Misdiagnosis of Thalassemia and consumption of iron pills in fact accumulates in the liver because the iron is not being utilized by hemoglobin and causes damage to people who have Thalassemia and not iron deficiency. link to his article is here >>http://www.utoronto.ca/kids/Thalassemia.htm
Epidemiology and History: Thalassemia is common in discrete regions of the world where malaria was prevalent, such as Asia, Africa, middle-east, and parts of Europe. It is interesting to note that people with such condition could survive malaria at a higher rate than people who did not have Thalassemia. Therefore Thalassemia condition caused a selective survival advantage for carriers(Wikipedia :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassemia ).
Hence, if you are from the countries that Thalassemia is common or your background is from countries mentioned above and your family doctor diagnosed you with either iron deficiency or “anemia” make sure you ask for a genetic test and make sure you do not have Thalassemia.
According to Wikipedia “This genetic disorder is autosomal recessive trait, meaning a person needs to inherit two copies of the gene from each parent for the trait to be expressed. Therefore both parents have to be carriers of a recessive trait in order for a child to express that trait. If both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance with each child to show the recessive trait”. This is important for people who are carriers of Thalassemia and plan to have kids and become pregnant to make sure their partner is not a carrier.
Here is a link which you can share with your friends to make them aware
