These include: changes in the biology of systemic iron homeostasis during pregnancy and the natural history of iron depletion, prognostic evaluations of different diagnostic markers of iron status such as ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, zinc protoporphyrin and hepcidin which change during pregnancy, the clinical consequences of iron depletion or anaemia for the mother and infant. The gene discussed is TFRC; the disease is anemia (phenotype).