Haemoglobin is an iron-containing protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues back to the lungs. It is a tetramer composed of two alpha and two non-alpha subunits. In adults, normal haemoglobin is 96-98% HbA which contains two alpha and two beta subunits. Fetal haemoglobin contains two alpha and two gamma subunits and makes up a smaller percentage. Mutations in the beta globin gene can result in haemoglobinopathies like sickle cell anemia.