Structural and genetic studies on chicken 7S immunoglobulin allotypes. III. Proposed nomenclature for the CS-1 gene alleles.

A survey of 47 inbred or partially inbred chicken lines derived from five sources in the United States and Europe revealed considerable genetic polymorphism in the structural gene (CS-1) responsible for the production of the predominant chicken 7S Ig heavy chain. A minimum of 10 alleles of the CS-1 gene were detected as unique combinations or phenogroups of CS-1 specificities. A system of nomenclature for CS-1 alleles was developed and six homozygous lines were designated as prototype lines. The remaining four CS-1 alleles occurred only in lines that were polymorphic for 7S Ig allotypic specificities.