What does the term hemoglobinopathy refer to?

Hemoglobinopathy refers to a disorder resulting from an abnormal structure or composition of the hemoglobin protein. Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood, and any alteration in its structure can lead to various health issues. This can include conditions such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia, where specific mutations cause the hemoglobin to function improperly, leading to impaired oxygen transport and other associated symptoms.

The other options describe different conditions; for instance, a deficiency of hemoglobin is often termed "anemia," while a virus infecting red blood cells does not specifically relate to the structure of hemoglobin itself. Additionally, a mutation affecting all blood cell types is not aligned with the specific focus on hemoglobin found in hemoglobinopathies. Thus, defining hemoglobinopathy as an abnormal protein structure in hemoglobin accurately captures the essence of the term.