An investigation of five genetic loci controlling polymorphic variants in the red cells of goats

Summary Results of a joint study carried out in South Africa and England to search for new genetic markers in the blood of goats are presented. Haemoglobin (Hb) phenotypes were reinvestigated with the technique of isoelectric focusing; frequencies in different goat breeds are given. Anaemic Hb type A, AB and B goats all produced a Hb C with an identical electrophoretic pattern. All goats tested had identical carbonic anhydrase (CA) types, but showed polymorphism of ‘X’ protein. Preliminary results indicated that nucleoside phosphorylase (NP) may be polymorphic.