Unusual features of CpG-rich (HTF) Islands in the human α globin complex: association with non-functional pseudogenes and presence within the 3′ portion of the ζ gene

Abstract
We have characterised a cluster of CpG rich (HTF) islands in the a-globin complex and report here two unusual features: The human embryonic ζ2-globin gene is associated with an HTF island within its 3′ portion rather than at the 5′ end. Furthermore at least two non-functional pseudogenes within the cluster (ψζ1 and ψa2) are associated with CpG rich islands.