Identification of β Vartant Hemoglobins by DNA Restriction Endonuclease Mapping

Abstract

An alternative method for identifying β variant hemoglobins is described. Computer analysis of restriction sites was used to predict which β variants could be detected by DNA mapping. 61 of 217 variants were shown to have changes in restriction fragment patterns which were useful markers for the abnormal hemoglobin. A further 25 could be identified by polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Implications of DNA analysis in diagnosis of variant hemoglobins are discussed.