Hemoglobin alpha is involved in o, Xenopus/Amphibian,ygen transport from the lung to the various peripheral tissues. Defects in hemoglobin alpha are the cause of alpha-thalassemia (A-THAL). The thalassemias are the most common monogenic diseases and occur mostly in Mediterranean and Southeast Asian populations. The hallmark of alpha-thalassemia is an imbalance in globin-chain production in the adult HbA molecule. The level of alpha chain production can range from none to very nearly normal levels. Untreated,Mouse,ost patients die in childhood or early adolescence.