Complementary DNA (cDNA) was prepared with viral RNA-dependent DNA polymerase using human globin messenger RNA (mRNA) as template. By selective hybridization to globin mRNA from p-thalassaemics a probe which was > 85% complementary to a-globin mRNA was purified.This was hybridized in cDNA excess to human genomic DNA, and the rate and extent of hybridization confirmed that there are two genes for a-globin per haploid genome. Cellular DNA was also prepared from peripheral blood from cases expressing the a-globin chain mutant Hb J Mexico to varying extents. This DNA was identical in hybridization behaviour to normal DNA demonstrating that the imbalanced mutant chain synthesis seen physiologically is not due to a gene deletion.From genetic and molecular data for a-thalassaemia and a-globin chain structural mutants, it has been proposed that there are two a-globin genes per human haploid genome. The four types of a-thalassaemia (a-tha12, a-thall, haemoglobin H disease and Hb Bart's hydrops foetalis) are thought to correspond to deletions of one, two, three and four a-globin genes per diploid genome respectively, as shown by genetic linkage [l] and by direct molecular hybridisation of a-globin-specific cDNA to excess DNA [2-41. In the case of a Hungarian family affected by two aglobin chain structural mutations, the presence of both mutant chains and also normal a-globin chains in a single individual demonstrates the presence of at least two a-globin genes per haploid genome [5].However, no data has yet excluded the presence of multiples of two a-globin genes per haploid genome [4]. Also, certain data on other structural mutants has been interpreted as indicating only a single a-globin gene per haploid genome. Haemoglobin Tongariki homozygotes and heterozygotes show an inheritance and gene expression pattern which is more easily explained by a single a-globin gene, although familial data is incomplete [6]. The expression of a-globin chain variants is often greater than 25% in heterozygotes.The varying expression of the structural mutants Hb G Philadelphia and Hb J Mexico have been used to argue for a heterogeneous distribution of one and two a-globin structural genes per haploid genome in these populations [7][8][9][10][11][12]221. For Hb J Mexico three defined classes of expression of the mutant chain, at 30 %, 40 % and 55 %, have been found [7,1 I]. Family studies show that individuals expressing 55 % Hb J Mexico inherit this variant from both parents (where both can be studied) and transmit the abnormal gene to every descendant. They thus can be termed homozygous (although normal a-globin chains are also expressed, presumably from a second, unaffected agene locus). The full genetic analysis has recently been published elsewhere [ l l ] .With the development of very radioactive gene probes, and in particular complementary DNA prepared from globin mRNA as template with viral RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase), it has proven possible to analyse the human genome directly for the presence and number o...