POLYMORPHISM IN 2 GENES FOR B2 HIGH-SULFUR PROTEINS OF WOOL

Variation in the nucleotide sequence of the B2 high-sulfur protein gen es has not been reported previously. This paper reports 15 nucleotide substitutions in each of the genes for the B2A and B2C proteins and a length of polymorphism in the B2A gene which translates to the inserti on/deletion of one 30-nucleotide repeat sequence. Evidence is presente d for gene conversion occurring within the B2 high-sulfur multigene fa mily. These DNA polymorphisms may account for some of the microheterog eneity observed in the B2 high-sulfur proteins and may also be useful genetic markers of the B2 high-sulfur protein gene loci for future use in analysing wool fibre characteristics.