Turkish scientists discover 'Haemoglobin Gene'

A team led by Dr Aydan Celebiler at Izmir University discovered a new gene causing thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies, two genetic blood disorders. Dr. Celebiler, deputy dean and professor at the Department of Medicinal Bio-Chemistry of Medicine Faculty, stated that there were 1.3 million thalassemia carriers and 4,500 people suffering from thalassemia in Turkey. Celebiler said that they discovered the gene through molecular analysis method, carrying the characteristic of the illness which causes hemoglobinopathy. She added that they named the newly discovered gene and the caused heamoglobin as "Haemoglobin Izmir".   Stating that thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies are genetic blood disorders, carried to the child through genes by parents, Celebiler noted that for each birth, there was a possibility of 25 percent for children to be born ill, if their parents were both carriers. "It is possible to ascertain the babies' potential of being a carrier before the birth, and to prevent them being born ill with the tests revealing the designations of the carriers. Rise of the awareness about the illness is possible with the carriers' tests," Celebiler stated.