Mr R has betathalassemia minor he is heterozygous for the be

Mr. R has beta-thalassemia minor; he is heterozygous for the beta-thalassemia gene, so he only makes half as many beta chains as normal. The red blood cells containing abnormal hemoglobin are destroyed more rapidly, so Mr. R suffers from mild anemia What are the beta chains, and why are they important in the hemoglobin molecule?

Solution

Beta chains are two of the four protein chains that hold heme groups in position and modulate their oxygen-binding properties

Explanation:

Hemoglobin has 4 polypeptide chains, 2 alpha chains 2 beta chains. Each protein chain holds one iron- containing heme group Oxygen binds to the heme groups