38 3, the Micronesians exhibiting the lowest fre- Table 23 quency, it is felt that no conclusions concerning differences between ethnic groups can be drawn at this time.” Table 22 shows the gene frequencies for the six . genetic polymorphismsfound. ¢. Blood Studies for Genetically Inherited Traits in the Marshalflese.* A large body of data has been collected from genetic studies on the Marshallese people. The results are not only of great anthropological interest but also may show in time some possible genetic effects of radiation exposure in future generations. Table 23 lists the frequency of the various traits tested. Blood grouping studies show that the Marshallese have a relatively high B gene frequency, a high N gene frequency, an extremely high R! genefrequency, and total absence of Keil and Diego fac- tors. These characteristics differ from those of Poiynesians and suggest a relationship of the Marshailese people with Southeast Asians and Indonesians. Haptoglobin studies showed a frequency of the Hp? genehigher than in European populations thus far tested and consistent with that of populations living near the equator. The distribution of haptoglobin types showed the population to be relatively homogeneous. Transferrins in all sera were type CC, the common European type. £Aminoisobutyric acid urinary levels showed the . Marshallese to be the highest excreters of this acid of any population thus far reported. Levels in the exposed group were about the sameas in the un- exposed group, and no correlation was found with body burden levels of radionuclides; this indicates that there is probably no correlation with radiation exposure. Hemoglobin types were considered normai(ail had type AAg). Sickling tests showed no sickling tendency in any of the people. Glucose-6phosphate dehydrogenase of the red cells appeared to be normal in the Marshallese. Studies of Gm pheno- Genetically Inherited Traits in Marshallese Trait Frequency (%) Gene frequency ABO (310 peopie) Oo 60.7 R, B 15.1 Q, 0.103 A AB 19.7 4.5 P, 0.768 0.128 MN(310 peopie) M MN N 8.0 22.0 70.0 Kell (310 people) 0.0 Diego (310 people) 0.0 M0194 N 0.806 RI 0.950 R® 0.030 Rh (310 people) RhyRhy, 90.9 Rh,Rh 3.9 Rhirhe Rhz Rho 4.2 0.3 0.6 R2 * 0.020 Haptoglobins (176 people) Types 1-1 33.5 Types 2-1 47.2 Types 2-2 Types 0 & rare 18.2 1.1 Ag system (187 people) ' C.deB. New York 98.0 38.0 Hemoglobin (171peopie) AAg 100.0 BAIB (188 people) High excretors 90.0 Australia antigen (474 people) types showed the Marshallese to have 100% Gmi'#+) and nearly 100% Gm+). There was a complete absence of Gm? and a high frequency of Gm-like (Gm¢). Serum studies for the Ag system reveal that the Rongelapese compared with other worid *Weare grateful to the following persons for analyses: blood groupings ~ Dr. L.N. Sussman, Beth Israel Hospital; haptogiobins, transferrins, AG antigens ~ Dr. B.S. Blumberg, Institute for Cancer Research, Philadelphia; hemogiobin types - Drs. R.L. Engle, Jr. and G. Castillo, Corneil University Medical Center, and Dr. S.H. Bayer, Johns Hopkins Hospital: giucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase studies - Dr. Bayer; BAIB studies - Dr. 3.ML Gartler, University of Washington, and Dr. Blumberg. 5005135 populations have a high frequency of C.deB. antiserum reactors and a low frequency of New York antiserum reactors. The level of BAIB (8-aminoiso-butyric acid) was the highest yet reported for any population. Considerable caution must be exercised in eval- uating the results of these studies on genetically inherited characteristics because of the small numberof samples tested. The data do seem to indicate relative homogeneity of the population and closest kinship with people of Southeast Asia.