A NEW HAPLOTYPE OF THE BETA GLOBIN GENE COMPLEX (HBBb) IN INDIAN FIELD MOUSE MUS BOODUGA

Electrophoretic survey of hemoglobin beta chain (Hbb) polymorphism in Indian pygmy field mouse Mus booduga has revealed a new haplotype Hbbb. Two distinct genes, Hbb-b1 and Hbb-b2 encode for major and minor components of adult Hbb respectively. Previously determined Hbb haplotypes Hbbs, Hbbd, Hbbp and Hbbw1 show same electrophoretic mobility of major component. So far variation has been reported only for the mobility in minor component of the different haplotypes except Hbbs which shows single electrophoretic band. I demonstrate major component of faster mobility in Mus booduga. Although major component of Hbb of faster mobility has been shown by induced mutation, it has not been reported in the natural population. Therefore, the presence of distinct mobility major band of hemoglobin beta chain in Mus booduga is interesting and has been designated as Hbbb