Problem
During her training for a 21 km half marathon, Maude found it increasingly hard to breathe and found herself easily tired. She visited her doctor and was diagnosed with beta thalassemia minor/minima.
I. Explain thalassemia. Determine its effects on normal body functions on a cellular, tissue and organ level.
II. Predict Maude's performance in the half marathon as compared with another runner without thalassemia and her ability to continue participating in the activity. Provide reasons to justify your answer.