DISTRIBUTION OF BETA-THALASSEMIA MUTATIONS IN SOUTH CHINA AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH HAPLOTYPES

  • 1 October 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (4) , 678-685
Abstract
DNA from 93 Chinese .beta.-thalassemia chromosomes were hybridized to eight different mutant oligomers to determine their specific mutation. Four mutations accounted for 87% of the chromosomes; in descending frequencies these mutations were codon 41/42, IVS-2 nt654, codon 17, and -28. Since codon 41/42 mutation can be associated with multiple .beta.-thalassemia haplotypes, codon 41/42 is probably a hot spot for the 4-bp deletion. The distributions of these mutations were mapped to various regions in south China. These data are useful for the planning of prenatal diagnosis programs in other Chinese communities worldwide.