It has been suggested that there is a close linkage between specific restriction fragment polymorphism patterns, defined as haplotypes, in the beta-globin gene cluster and specific mutations in Mediterranean people with thalassaemia. This association formed the basis of a strategy for the efficient characterization of beta-thalassaemia mutations from the DNA sequence of one or two beta-thalassaemia genes derived from each haplotype in each ethnic group. Subsequently, Robertson and Hill argued that this strategy greatly underestimates the number of mutations on haplotypes which are frequent among normal chromosomes. We have therefore now analysed the proposed association and strategy quantitatively by the use of oligonucleotide hybridization and direct restriction analysis. Our results suggest that: (1) the association of specific haplotypes with specific mutations is high, but not invariant; (2) a different beta-thalassaemia mutation has arisen within each haplotype in Mediterraneans; and (3) mutation spread from one haplotype to another occurs mainly through meiotic recombination within a 9-kilobase region 5' to the beta-globin gene.