Alpha 1 Fetoprotein is a major plasma protein produced by the yolk sac and the liver during fetal life. Alpha fetoprotein expression in adults is often associated with hepatoma or teratoma. However, hereditary persistance of alpha-fetoprotein may also be found in individuals with no obvious pathology. The protein is thought to be the fetal counterpart of serum albumin, and the alpha fetoprotein and albumin genes are present in tandem in the same transcriptional orientation on chromosome 4. A