G6PD and G6PD deficiency: Over 400 million individuals are inflicted by G6PD deficiency (favism) worldwide.3 A majority of G6PD mutations belong to single base missense mutation.4 The lack of reports on frameshift mutations or large deletions in this deficiency implies that complete loss of function of G6PD is incompatible with embryonic life.5, 6 Consistent with the report of embryonic lethality in G6PD-deficient mice, G6PD-deficient Caenorhabditis elegans displays impaired embryonic development indicated by severe hatching defects of embryos.7