41 samples of the fetuses aged 7 to 14 weeks and 12 samples of the umbilical cord from fetuses aged 9 to 15 weeks were studied to ascertain the early hemoglobin.
(1) Heme proteins were determined in the fetuses before 12 weeks gestation and in umbilical cord before 13 weeks gestation. These corresponded to Hb-Gower 1 and 2, as defined by Huehns. Subsequent physico-chemical studies have revealed that these are produced during the early embryonic period, and switched over to other components at later stages, at approximately 12 weeks gestation.
(2) In less than 50 per cent of embryos aged 7 to 9 weeks, a new component, intermediate between Hb-Gower 1 and 2, was detected on starch gel electrophoresis, which was identified to be a previously undefined hemoglobin.
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