Thalassemia and sickle cell anemia are caused due to a problem in globin molecule synthesis. Select the correct statement.
Answer: (C) Thalassemia is due to less synthesis of globin molecules. Answer: (C) Thalassemia is due to less synthesis of globin molecules Solution: Thalassemia is a quantitative defect — a reduced rate of synthesis of one of the normal globin chains, producing too few globin molecules.
- A.Both are due to a qualitative defect in globin chain synthesis
- B.Both are due to a quantitative defect in globin chain synthesis
- C.Thalassemia is due to less synthesis of globin molecules✓
- D.Sickle cell anemia is due to a quantitative problem of globin molecules
Correct Answer
(C) Thalassemia is due to less synthesis of globin molecules
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (C) Thalassemia is due to less synthesis of globin molecules Solution: Thalassemia is a quantitative defect — a reduced rate of synthesis of one of the normal globin chains, producing too few globin molecules. Sickle-cell anaemia, by contrast, is a qualitative defect — synthesis of an incorrectly functioning globin. Hence options framing both as the same type, or reversing them, are wrong. NCERT Reference: NCERT Class XII, Ch 4, p.75, lines 32-35: "Thalassemia differs from sickle-cell anaemia in that the former is a quantitative problem of synthesising too few globin molecules while the latter is a qualitative problem of synthesising an incorrectly functioning globin."