17
Table 8
ABO, MN, Rh-Hr, and Duffy-Kell-Diego Frequency Among
Marshallese and Polynesians
ABO system
Group
MN system
Genetrequency
Type
Gene frequency
No
=O
A
B
AB
p.
qe
re
M
MN
N
Marshallese
(present study)
129°
38.1
186
15
8.2
0.789
0.116
0.095
6.2
13.5
Marshallese
(Simmons*")
678
32.2
21.4
121.1
3.3
0.7293
0.135)
O.134
(10)
Polynesians
(Simmons and Graydon*')
.
138
39.1
60.9
0
0
0.626
0.374
0.10
19.6
Phenotype Rh-Hr
m
n
78.3
0.14
0,86
(19)
(71)
0.22
0.78
47.8
32.6
0.435
0.565
Gene frequency
Rh,Rh,
Rhyrh
Rh.
Rh,Rh.
R'
97.7
2,3
0
0
0.985
Marshallese
(Simmons*")
90.6
0.7
0.3
8.0
Polynesians
(Simmons and Graydon*')
19.6
0.7
29.7
50.0
R*
Duffy, Kell, Diego
R"
Fy’ 4+
K+
Di’ +
0
Q.15
89.2
0
0
0.951
0.04
0.006
-
-
0.449
0.543
0.007
0
0
Marshallese
(present study)
4) Duffy System:
In this system 89.2% Duffy (Fy*) positive bloods
were found. A previous report of 100% Duffy (Fy*)
positive reactions” (in 30 specimensthat had been
stored for 16 months) indicates a needfor verifica-
tion andclarification.
5) Other Systems:
Kell tests were 100% negative as previously re-
ported. Diego* tests were 100% negative.
The failure to demonstrate the Diego factor in
any of the studies conducted in this area of the
world is noteworthy. To date its absence in
Polynesians,”* Maoris,’* and now in Marshallese
becomesa significant finding in view ofits occurrence in Mongoloids, Eskimos, and Amerindians,**-** to whom Heyerdahl”® credits the population of the Polynesian Islands.
The gene frequency comparisons with other
reports from this area are shown in Table 8.
The above findings indicate a rather homoge-
100
74.6
tremes of gene frequencies. With somereservations because of the relatively small samplings, the
following facts are of interest in the blood groupings of the Marshallese.
1) The extremely high frequency of the O gene
(78.9%),
2) The extremely low frequency of the M gene
(14%).
3) The highest incidence of the R' chromosome
yet reported (98.5%).
4) The presence of 10.8% of Duffy (Fy*) negatives.
5} The absolute absence of Kell and Diego
factors.
6) A single example of A.B in this area.
The investigations of numerous authors, compiled and summarized by Mourant,'*® most nearly
relate these blood groupings to those found in
Southeast Asia and Indonesia, whererelatively
frequent B genes are found, a high N frequency
nous population of the Marshall Islands with ex-
exists, and a similar high frequency of the R* chro-
*We are indebted to Dr. Philip Levine who supplied the anti
Di* serum and Dr. Miguel Layrisse who supplied the Di’ positive
extremely low incidence of the M gene, and the
cells for control.
mosome is seen.
The absolute absence of the Diego factor, the
unusually high R* chromosomefrequencyof the