Allelic constitution of the hemoglobin beta chain in wild populations of the house mouse, Mus musculus

Abstract

We studied the allelic frequency of the hemoglobin beta chain (Hbb) of wild mice, Mus musculus, collected from 46 localities, mostly in Asia and surrounding areas. The wild populations in the northern part of China, Korea, and the central part of Japan exhibited an almost monomorphic distribution of Hbb ^p . In the southern part of Asia, the frequency of Hbb ^p decreased and Hbb ^d was predominant. Although Hbb ^s and Hbb ^d are generally found in Europe, the Hbb ^p allele was present in Southeastern Europe (Bulgaria). In the light of these results, the Hbb ^p allele might have originated in mice of northern Asia.