A severe form of the
genetic disorder thalassemia in which all four
alpha chain polypeptides making up the
hemoglobin molecule (the
protein which transports
oxygen in the body) are missing due to a
defect in the
gene which codes for them. As a result, affected individuals
die at or before birth.
From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.