A genetic polymorphism in hemoglobins of chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Abstract

A genetic polymorphism with three phenotypes is described for the anodally migrating hemoglobins of adult chinook salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha) from British Columbia, Canada. A genetic model with the genotypes DD, DH, and HH is suggested, on the basis of Hardy–Weinberg genotypic frequencies, in samples of adult chinook salmon from three stocks, and on Mendelian genotypic frequencies among progeny of single-parent crosses. Allelic frequencies differed among stocks. The polymorphism may result from a dimorphism in one or both of the tentatively called β-chain loci, with allele D encoding a chain βFf and allele H encoding a chain βFs. The two β-loci may be individually regulated. The locus tentatively referred to as α is monomorphic, as are the minimum of three or four loci that encode the globins of the cathodal hemoglobins. The cathodal and anodal hemoglobins had no globins in common.