• 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (4) , 565-572
Abstract
Albumin and .alpha.-fetoprotein are structurally related serum proteins, having a similar gene structure and, conceivably, a common evolutionary origin. To test their relative arrangement in the human genome, the serum albumin and .alpha.-fetoprotein genes were mapped by in situ hybridization of cloned human albumin or .alpha.-fetoprotein c[complementary]DNA to human mitotic chromosome preparations. Analysis of cells hybridized with the serum albumin probe showed that 39% of cells exhibited grains on the proximal portion of the long arm of chromosome 4 (bands q11-22), with these grains comprising 30% of all labeled sites throughout these mitoses. In cells hybridized with the .alpha.-fetoprotein probe, 39% of cells were observed to contain Ag grains on 4q11-22, these grains constituting 20% of all labeled sites in these cells. Chromosomal localization and linkage of the serum albumin and .alpha.-fetoprotein genes within bands q11-22 of the long arm of human chromosome 4 is demonstrated.