Expression and genetics of caprine haemoglobins

The expression of haemoglobin (Hb) has been studied in 260 Norwegian Dairy goats by the Immobiline technique at pH ranges 6.7-7.7, 6.9-7.6 and 6.9-7.5. The majority of goats exhibited two- or four-band patterns. In two-band types the average ratio between the anodal and cathodal band was 74:26. PAGE with 8M urea distinguished three phenotypes for the beta chains, proving that the Hb variation described is in the beta chain. Segregation data in 106 complete sire-dam-offspring families agreed with the existence of four beta globin alleles--A2, A4, A6 and A8. Twenty-seven animals had reversed ratios (R) of Hb bands. In two-band phenotypes the average ratio was 36:64. In 15 complete families where one of the parents had reversed ratio, eight offspring received the R type, indicating a simple genetic control. After urea PAGE the R animals all showed the same alpha chain phenotype which differed from that of goats having common ratios of bands. An additional polymorphism appeared in nine animals as three- and five-band patterns which is assumed to be the result of heterozygosity for II alpha and for II alpha and beta globin genes respectively.