OBJECTIVE To explore the mutations of coagulation factor VII (FVII) gene in one pedigree with hereditary FVII deficiency, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms of FVII deficiency. METHODS FVII gene mutations were analysed in the pedigree by direct DNA sequencing. The mutated DNA fragments were cloned into pMD19-T simple TA vector, and sequenced to confirm their distribution on chromosome. The plasma activity of FVII of the probands and their family members was detected with coagulation assay. The antigen of FVII were identified with ELISA. RESULTS Three gene mutations were detected in the pedigree: A/G to C at 15386 resulting in Arg353Pro/Gln353Pro, A to T at 15274 resulting in Lys316Stop, all three mutations were heterozygotes. Three kinds of polymorphisms were identified in his father: A to G transition at position 15386 resulting in Arg353Gln, heterozygotic deletion of 2050 - 2059 cctatatcct in promoter and G to A mutation in intron 1a, the same polymorphisms were found in his grandfather. The three polymorphisms were located in the same chromosome of his father. CONCLUSIONS Two mutations were found in the pedigree with hereditary FVII deficiency. One is nonsense mutation (Lys316Stop), the other is missense one (Gln353Pro). Gln353Pro and Lys316Stop might be the molecular mechanisms of FVII deficiency. The two novel mutations were reported for the first time in the literature.