A new beta-globin gene from the zebrafish, betaE1, and its pattern of transcription during embryogenesis.

In a search for novel, developmentally regulated genes we screened randomly picked cDNA clones, obtained from zebrafish mRNA, by in situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labelled riboprobes. Out of 150 clones tested, 1 codes for a new beta-globin gene and is expressed during embryogenesis. Here we describe its pattern of expression and its use as a marker for early zebrafish erythropoiesis.