Electrophoretic and cytogenetic studies of Chironomus utahensis

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis of Chironomus utahensis hemolymph demonstrated a six-band pattern for hemoglobins. Three major and three minor bands made up the electropherogram. Slight variations from this general pattern were found in less than 10 percent of the population and may represent ontogenetic changes, genetic variation or slight changes in the electrophoretic conditions. No variations could be correlated with the age of the culture, sex, or site of collection. Cytogenetic observations of the salivary glands revealed three large and one small pair of independent polytene chromosomes. Comparisons of electrophoretic patterns of hemoglobins and chromosome banding patterns with other chironomid species will help to clarify their taxonomic and evolutionary relationships.