Direct demonstration of beta-globin mRNA in homozygous Ferrara betaO-thalassaemia patients.

In cases of betaO-thalassaemia from Ferrara, Italy, the beta-globin gene in transcribed into mRNA but no protein is synthesised. For these cases there is no hybridisation data suggesting a globin gene structural mutation. This again demonstrates the diverse molecular events which may cause this prevalent hereditary disease.