The commonest beta‐globin gene (HBB; OMIM 141,900; NM_000518.5) variants which account for greater than 85% of beta‐thalassemia in the country include: IVSI‐5 (G > C); IVSI‐1 (G > A); codon (CD) 26 (G > A); CD 6 (−13 bp); IVSI‐129 (A > C), and CD 55 (−A) (Fisher et al., 2003). The gene discussed is HBB; the disease is thalassemia.