hemoglobin what is it quizlet
What is a hemoglobin abnormality? A hemoglobin abnormality is a variant form of hemoglobin that is often inherited and may cause a blood disorder (hemoglobinopathy). Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein compound within red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. It is made up of heme, which is the iron-containing portion, and globin chains, which are proteins. The globin protein consists of chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. There are several different types of globin chains, named alpha, beta, delta, and gamma. Normal hemoglobin types include: