Objective: The aim of this study is to establish a new method for detecting the DNA polymorphism of human complement component C8A.
Methods: Based on the point mutation (C-->A) of C8A gene in exon3,The genotypes of 98 unrelated individuals from Han population in Chengdu were studied by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP)analysis followed by DNA sequencing.
Results: The genotypes of C8A * AA, C8A * BB and C8A * AB were observed and the distribution of the genotypes frequencies of C8A in Chengdu Han population was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Conclusion: The method of PCR-SSCP is reliable, rapid, simple and cost-effective in detecting the DNA polymorphism of C8A, and it is valuable for further application in population genetic study and forensic science practice.