Genetic analysis of an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mutation at the hemoglobin beta-chain locus in mice

The specific-locus test was performed with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) on spermatogonia of mice by using visible loci and a hemoglobin beta-chain (Hbb) locus. Male wild-type (C3Hf/He) mice were injected intraperitoneally with ENU. 8 weeks after injection, these males were mated with tester strain females (PW). 9 visible mutants and the 1 Hbb locus mutant were obtained. This Hbb locus mutation was heritable and viable under homozygous conditions, suggesting that it might have resulted from events at the molecular level.