Differences in the DNA restriction patterns between sheep with HbA and HbB

DNA samples obtained from sheep homozygous for HbA, for HbB and heterozygous were subjected to Southern blot analysis using a goat beta F and a rabbit beta 1-globin gene as probes. Sheep homozygous for HbA show a different restriction pattern from that of sheep homozygous for HbB with each of the used endonucleases. The DNAs from moufflon and sheep homozygous for HbA show indistinguishable restriction patterns with some endonucleases. By means of double digestions it has been possible to construct restriction maps of the beta B and beta C genes and to confirm the absence of the beta C gene in HbB sheep.