Multiple arrangements of the human embryonic zeta globin genes

Rearrangements which are most readily explained by homologous crossover between misaligned segments of DNA in the region of the human embryonic zeta (zeta) globin genes have been identified in individuals of three different racial origins. These recombination events have resulted in a surprisingly high prevalence of chromosomes with single (0.4%) and triplicated (1.3%) zeta genes with apparently no significant effect on the phenotype.