Question

The following is an excerpt from the case study "It's All Greek to Me," where Dr. Williams is explaining Nikloleta's disease to her parents: "You both have a much milder form of anemia. Unfortunately, Nikoleta's condition is more severe. Nikoleta has what is known as beta-thalassemia, which is also called Cooley's anemia ... there are two types of hemoglobin proteins involved in the process of carrying oxygen, alpha and beta. You need both of them in order to have properly working hemoglobin. Nikoleta's beta proteins don't function correctly."

Answer 1

If it were possible to treat Nikoleta's anemia with a blood transfusion, what component of the blood would she most benefit from, and whom should the blood transfusion come from? Explain.