A gene family indicates a set of many similar genes which are formed by duplication of a single original gene and generally having similar biochemical functions.
Example of such gene family is the genes for human hemoglobin subunit. There are ten genes in this family. The ten genes are present in two clusters on different chromosome. These two loci on the chromosome are the α-globin and β-globin loci. The position of the genes of this gene family are as follows:
HBA1 - 16p13.3
HBA2 - 16p13.3
HBB - 11p15.4
HBD - 11p15.4
HBE - 111p15.4
HBG1 - 111p15.4
HBG2 - 11p15.4
HBM - 16p13.3
HBQ1 - 16p13.3
HBZ - 16p13.3
Protein functions: These genes are responsible for the production of globin protein which is essential for the formation of hemoglobin as a part of RBC. These hempglobin in RBC binds with oxygen and carry the oxygen atom to whole body and thus perform respiration process.
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