Heritability of the Plasma Transferrin Protein in Three Species of Microtus

Abstract

ALTHOUGH variation in the electrophoretic mobility of the plasma transferrin protein has been demonstrated in a number of mammals^1–13, not all investigations include work on the actual heritability of the protein. Cohen⁶, Shreffler⁷ and Ashton and Braden¹⁴ have all worked on the genetical control of this protein in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus), but while the first two workers refer to the transferrin proteins, the latter two make reference to β-globulins. This occurs also in other instances in the literature. I therefore suggest that when an iron-binding method is used to identify this protein, as is the case in most of the work already carried out, perhaps the functional name, transferrin, would be more accurate than the general term, β-globulin, for it is possible that not all the latter is being stained. This communication reports data gathered on the inheritance of the transferrin protein in the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), the prairie vole (M. ochrogaster), and the beach vole (M. breweri).