CORSL
REPOSITORY
COLLECTION
in}
a
MENCE,
pp Relea’Aree
SCIENCE,
SH
than the blood groupings of the Amerin-
Upton, L. L, New York
Table 2. Blood group frequencies among
Marshallese and Polynesians.
Marshallese
ttem
dians.
During March 1958, the annual medical survey of the Marshallese people of
Rongelap Island was carried out, 4 years
after they were accidentally exposed to
radioactive fallout (March 1954) (1).
These annual surveys are carried out by
Brookhaven National Laboratory under
the direction of R. A. Conard and are
sponsored by the Atomic Energy Com-mission with the collaboration of the Department of Defense. During the course
of these studies it became of interest to
determine the blood groupings in the
Marshallese people as an index of their
origin and homogeneity. Blood samples
were obtained by the survey team for
this purpose,
The frequent movement of the Marshallese people amongthe variousislands
of Micronesia and, to a lesser extent, of
Melanesia and other adjacent areas precludes any such concept as “pure” Marshallese. However, these people have
lived for an estimated 2000 years on
these islands with fewer outside contacts, perhaps, than most other groups.
The findings presented consist of the
Table 1. Results of blood grouping of 129
Marshallese.
0
Ay
As
B
75
24
0
19
AB
1
M
MN
N
8
20
101
RhiRh,
Rhirh
126
3
age
Gene
frequency*
ABO system
58.1
762 (re = .789}
18.6
114 (fe = .116)
0
15.0
093 (ge = .095)
0.8
M-N system
6.2
14
15.5
78.3
86
RA-Hr system
97.7
£985
2.3
*re, fe, and gqe=corrected gene frequency for
genes O, 4, and B.
sUE eso?
Simmons’
report
(4)
(N=
678}
This
report
(N=
129)
ABO system
Group (%)
.O
58.1
52.2
A
18.6
21.4
B
15.0
21.1
AB
8.2
5.3
Gene frequency
re
789
723
Pe
116
135
qe
.095
134
Rk-Hr system
Phenotype {%)
Rh,Rh,
97.7
90.6
Rhirh
2.3
Rh,
0
RhRh,
0
Gene frequency
Rk
.985
Re
0
R
O15
M-N system
Type (%)
M
6.2
MN
15.5
N
78.3
Gene frequency
m
14
n
86
Fy4 + (%)
Percent-
407865
Brookhaven National Laboviio:-y
FE22) -— 292
Abstract. The absence of the Diego
blood factor, the extremely low incidence
of the Af gene, and the unusually high R’
gene frequency of the Marshallese more
nearly resemble the blood groupings of the
people of the western islands of Indonesia
No.
The Medical Resenred: © cteg
PUBLICATIONS
Blood Groupings in Marshallese
Group
G45,
6,6 1959, Vol. . 129, No. . 3349, pages 644-645
IscANOS
DEPT.
BOX No. MEDICAL
FOLDER
March
March
K+ °%)
Dit + (%)
a
3
8.0
89.2
100
Kell system
0
Diego system
0
Simmons
and
Graydon’s
report
(6)
(N=
138)
39.1
60.9
0
0
626
374
O
19.6
a
29.7
50.0
951
04
-006
10*
ig*
7i*
Duffy system
Polynesians
449
543
.007
19.6
47.8
32.6
22
78
A435
5965
74.6
0
0
* These values were calculated from published data.
blood groupings and genedistribution of
129 Marshallese and cannot be considered as characteristic of any special
group, but rather a sampling of the gene
distribution in the area. The results, by
the ABO, M-N, and Rh-Hrsystems, are
sharp contrast to the absence of B or AB
among the Polynesians. An unusual finding was one Marshallese of group A,B.
This was verified by testing with several
absorbed B antisera, as well as with the
lectin from Dolichos biflorans (2). The
total absence of A, genes in Eastern Asia,
Australia, and Indonesia has been re-
peatedly noted (3). Inquiry into the
family background of the single A,B native failed to reveal any significant information to lead one to suspect admixture,
M-N system. The low frequency of the
M gene has been noted in this area by
many investigators (¢}. The frequencies
obtained in this study are among the
jowest encountered and are in sharp contrast to the figures obtained among the
Polynesians.
Rh-Hr system. A most unusual distribution was noted in the Rh-Hr system.
Tests were performed with anti Rh,(D),
rh’(C), rh’ (E), hr’(c), and hr’’(e) sera.
A completely different set of results
from those reported for Polynesians was
obtained. In particular, the latter were
reported as being of group Rh,Rh, in
50 percent of the persons tested, whereas
not a single individual of this grouping
was found among the Marshallese. The’
gene frequency of 98.5 percent for R1 is
the highest reported for any ethnic group.
The complete absence of any rh negative
persons in these and related series makes
one suspect that the true genotype of the
bloods giving a positive reaction with
anti-hr’(c) serum is most probably
RiR°. The occasional finding of an Rhy
person by Simmons ef al. (4) supports
this interpretation. In the present series
of 125 samples there were no bloods that
reacted with rh” (E) antiserum.
Duffy system. In the Duffy system
there were found 89.2 percent Duffy
(Fy*) positive bloods. A previous report
of 100 percent Duffy (Fy*) positive reactions (4) (performed on 30 specimens
that had been stored for 16 months) indicates a need for verification and clarification,
Other systems. Kell tests were 100 percent negative, as was previously reported.
shown in Table 1 and are compared with
Diego tests were 100 percent negative
(5}.
ABO system. In the ABO system the
high frequency of the B group which almost equals that of the A group is in
factor in any of the studies conducted in
this area of the world is noteworthy. To
date its absence in Polynesians (6),
_ the results of other studies in Table 2.
The failure to demonstrate the Diego