Beta Globin Frameworks in Thalassemia Major Patients from North Iran

Four combinations of five neutral sequence changes at rs713040, rs10768683, rs7480526, rs7946748, and rs1609812 occurring in the human beta globin gene defined as frameworks have been reported in beta globin gene. Here we report for the first time the frequency of these frameworks in 46 thalassemia patients of North Iran using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis. All these frameworks called framework 1, 2, 3, 3a were present at the frequency of 23.9%, 45.7%, 6.5% and 23.9% respectively. These frameworks may be used for tracking mutant alleles in prenatal diagnosis programs.