Hemoglobin LeporeWASHINGTON in Two Jamaican Families: Interaction With Beta Chain Variants

Abstract

Abstract Hb Lepore Washington was found segregating in two unrelated families. In one family, three subjects doubly heterozygous for Hb Lepore and a beta-chain variant were observed. A woman, aged 76 yr, with the Hb Lepore-Hb S combination had two offspring with Hb Lepore-Hb C combinations. One Hb Lepore-Hb C subject married to a hematologically normal woman had eight offspring: seven living at the time of study, six with Hb Lepore trait, and one with Hb C trait. In the second family, only Hb Lepore trait was found. Interest centers on the first family: the mild symptomatology of the Hb Lepore-Hb S subject, and the absence of crossovers in the seven living offspring of one Hb Lepore-Hb C subject. The latter finding provides further genetic evidence for allelism or close linkage of the locus for Hb Lepore with the beta chain structural locus.