B-Thalassemia:the anaemia coming from the sea

Beta thalassemia is a severe haematological disorder, caused by a genetic mutation. In the past it was larger distributed, mostly in people coming from the Mediterranean region, the reason why it is also called “Mediterranean anemia”. Its distribution shows its probably origin and its spread from Greek population especially as far as Italy is concerned and it also shows interlinking relation with malarial infection. This disease results in a severe anemia that results in peculiar bone modification which can be detected in the osteological specimens coming from archaeological sites.