+1 capacity. No cornekation was seen. The explanation for the higherBy, levels is not apparent at this time. Studies of Genetically Inherited Traits Blood Groups. The laboratory analysis of blood groups was conducted by Dr. L.N. Sussman and cofleagues and reportedas follows. The results of the* 1958 and 1959 studies were combined, making a total of 310 individual bloods. Care was taken to avoid duplication. The results of this broader sampling, compared to findings of Simmons et al. for the same area’’ and for the Polynesians~? are presented in Tables 27, 28, and 29. Data on all individuals tested are given in Appendix 6. The findings may be summarized as follows. 1. ABO system. The high frequencyof the B gene to the Amerindians, Mongolians, and Eskimos.” among whom some Diego positive people are found, The following blood group characteristics of 310 Marshallese represent significant differences from those of their eastern neighbors (Polynesians) and suggest a relationship with Southeast Asians and Indonesians. |. A relatively high B gene frequency. 2.A high \ gene frequency. 3. Extremely high R' gene frequency. 4. Total absence of Kell and Diego factors. Haptoglobins and Transferrins. The distribu- tion of the haptoglobin types in the 176 Rongelap- ese tested is shown in Table 30. Data on all individuals tested may be found in Appendix 6. This sample included some families with two or more offspring; in these, all siblings but one werere- is again demonstrated, in contrast to the absence moved by random selection to give a sample of the presentseries a single individual of group A.B most, parents and one child. The distribution of the haptoglobin types in this group did not differ significantly from that in the total group. In eagh of B genes in the Polynesians. The absence of A, gene in this area has been noted repeatedly.*’ In was confirmed. The x? value in this system ts 3.18 (p=0.15). The excess of AB persons (expected 8, observed 14) contributes the major part of the x” deviation. 2. MN system. The extremely low frequency of M gene has been noted in manystudies of this popu- lation and area, in contrast to its high frequency in Polynesians. The x? value in this system is 23.7 (/=0.001), whichis statistically invalid. The error lies in the finding of 25 Mpersons whereas only 11.6 could be expected. Thus it appears that the N gene in the heterozygote escapes detection.If this were corrected for, the result would be an even greater frequency of N gene. 3. RA- Hr system. The marked frequencyof the R' gene is again demonstrated, higher than reported 124 individuals in which the families included, at case, agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg predictions was good, suggesting that the population was homogeneousfor this trait. Omitting the two sera with no haptoglobins, the frequency of the Hp’ gene is 0.58 and of the Hp’ gene 0.42. The frequency of the Hp' gene is higher than in the West European populationsso far tested. Four Rongelapese had no detectable hapto- globin either in 1957 or 1959. In addition, in many sera only very small amounts of haptoglobin Table 29 Rh-Hr Frequency Among Marshallese and Polynesians in any other study. Thefailure to demonstrate any. Marshallese rh negative persons suggests that the probable Present genotype of the heterozygous Rh, people is R'R®. This is further supported by the finding of two persons of phenotype Rhy. The x* value in this system is 13.7, Again the statistical value is dimin- ished because 2 Rh, people were found whereas ms, 0.26 were expected. [t can be seen that a major’ change in x’ value can be caused by a single indi- ~ vidual of ‘‘unusual” grouping. 4. Other systems. The failure to find in this group of 310 a single person with a Diego or Kell factor is noteworthy. The Marshallese, Maoris,*' and Polynesians are similar in this respect, in contrast report Phenotype percent Rh. Rh, 90.9 Rh,rh 4.2 Rh, Rh, 3.9 Rh. 0.3 Rh, 0.6 Gene frequency R! R? R” 0.950 020 030 Simmons et al.*8 90.6 0.7 8.0 0.3 0.12 0.931 .04 006 Polynesian Simmons and Graydon” 19.6 0.7 50.0 29.7 0.449 543 007 > t ve 5 f r