Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder where the body doesn’t produce enough hemoglobin, a crucial protein in red blood cells. This condition is manageable with regular blood transfusions and chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the body. A child with thalassemia may need one or two blood transfusions per month and regular medication to manage the disorder.
First Possibility:
If one parent is a thalassemia carrier and the other is not, there is a 50% chance each child will be a carrier and a 50% chance they will not carry thalassemia at all. None of the children will develop thalassemia major.
Second Possibility:
If both parents are carriers, each child has a 50% chance of being a carrier, a 25% chance of not being a carrier, and a 25% chance of developing thalassemia major.
Third Possibility:
If one parent has thalassemia major and the other is not a carrier, all their children will be carriers of thalassemia, but none will develop thalassemia major.
First Possibility:
If one parent is a thalassemia carrier and the other is not, there is a 50% chance each child will be a carrier and a 50% chance they will not carry thalassemia at all. None of the children will develop thalassemia major.
Second Possibility:
If both parents are carriers, each child has a 50% chance of being a carrier, a 25% chance of not being a carrier, and a 25% chance of developing thalassemia major.
Third Possibility:
If one parent has thalassemia major and the other is not a carrier, all their children will be carriers of thalassemia, but none will develop thalassemia major.