Ancestral β-globin gene haplotypes modify β-thalassemia severity in a mouse model [bone marrow, spleen]

β-Thalassemia is a prevalent anemia caused by mutations in the HBB (β-globin) gene. We show that the severity of β-thalassemia in the frequently studied Hbbth3/+ mouse model is influenced by ancestral β-globin gene (Hbb) haplotypes that differ in common strains. To investigate to what degree the single and diffuse Hbb haplotypes modify the severity of β-thalassemia in mice.