title: Genetic variation in Cameroon: thermostability variants of hemoglobin and of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
abstract: The technique of heat denaturation was used in addition to electrophoresis for the detection of thermostability variants of hemoglobin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in an attempt to measure the amount of genetic variability present in villages in the United Republic of Cameroon, Equatorial Africa. A minimum of three to a maximum of 13 thermostability variants were estimated for HbA and HbS, and a minimum of two to a maximum of ten thermostability variants were estimated for GdA, GdB, and GdA-. It is suggested that hemoglobin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase thermostability variants are genetically determined and that the sites of these variants are at the hemoglobin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase structural loci. The evidence for the existence of these hidden variants and their importance in the neutralist v. selectionist controversy are discussed.
mesh_terms: D002163:Cameroon; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase