My wife carries Thalassemia but I don't?

Question

I'm a bit confused; if my wife is a carrier, and I have none whatsoever...can any of our children have it?Will they all be carriers?

Answer 1

Your children run a 50% risk of being "healthy carriers," like your wife and a 50% chance of  nonthalassemic genes (like yours).  Both you and your wife contribute one set of genetic material (you will either give X or Y; she will contribute either healthy X or carrier X).  Depending upon which X she contributes to your offspring determines whether or not they will carry the gene for thalassemia.  Because you do not carry this gene, it is genetically impossible to have a child with thalassemia major (genetic trait which causes altered hemoglobin).  I hope that helped!