+1
capacity. No cornekation was seen. The explana-
tion for the higher_B,, 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 reported as follows. The results
of che*1958 and 1959 studies were co%bined,
making a total of 310 individual] bloods. Care was
taken to avoid duplication. The results of this
broader sampling, compared to Andings of Sim-
monset 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 Ap-
to the Amerindians, Mongolians, and Eskimos.’
among whom some Diego positive people are
found.
The following bload group characteristics of 310
Marshallese represent significant differences from
those of their eastern neighbors (Polynesians) and
suggest a relationship with Southeast Asians and
Indonesians.
1. A relatively high B gene frequency.
2.A high Ngene frequency.
3. Extremely high R'‘ gene frequency.
+. Total absence of Kell and Diego factors.
Haptoglobins and Transferrins. The distribution of the haptoglobin types in the 176 Rongelap-
ese tested is shown in Table 30. Data on all indi-
pendix 6. The findings may be summarized as
follows.
sample included some families with two or more
1. ABO system. The high frequency of the B gene
offspring; in these, all siblings but one were re-
is again demonstrated, in contrast to the absence
of B genes in the Polynesians. The absence of A.
gene in this area has been notedrepeatedly.*? In
the present series a single individual of group A,B
was confirmed. The x? value in this system is 5.18
(£=0.15). The excess of AB persons (expected 8,
observed 1+) contributes the major part of the x°
deviation.
2. MN system. The extremely low frequency of M
gene has been noted in many studies of this popu-
lation and area, in contrast to its high frequency
in Polynesians. The x* value in this system is 23.7
( p==0.001), which is statistically invalid. The error
lies in the finding of 25 M persons whereas only
11.6 could be expected. Thus it appears that the
N gene in the heterozygote escapes detection. If
viduals tested may be found in Appendix 6. This
moved by random selection to give a sample of
124 individuals in which the families included, at
most, pareats and one child. The distribution of
the haptoglobin types in this group did not differ
significantly from that in the total group. In eagh
case, agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg predictions was good, suggesting that the population
was homogeneous forthis 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! geneis higher than in the
West European populationsso faitested.
Four Rongelapese had no detectable haptoglobin either in 1957 or 1959. In addition, in
many sera only very small amounts of haptoglobin
a
this were corrected for, the result would be an
even greater frequencyof N gene.
3. RaA- fr system. The marked frequencyof the R'
gene is again demonstrated, higher than reported
in any other study. The failure to demonstrate any
Table 29
Rh-Hr Frequency Among Marshallese and Polynesians
Marshallese
rh negative persons suggests that the probable
genotype of the heterozygous Rh, people is R’R°.
Present
report
This is further supported by the finding of two
persons of phenotype Rh,. The x? value in-this
system is 13.7. Again thestatistical value is diminished because 2 Rh, people were found whereas *
0.26 were expetited. It 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
11853591
Phenotype percent
Rh,Rh,
90.9
Rh,rh
4.2
~h,Rh,
3.9
rh,
0.3
Rho
06
Gene frequency
R!
R?
R°
Simmons
et al.*8
=
;
.
90.6
0.7
8.0
0.3
0.12
0.950
020
0.951
04
030
.006
_——
oe:
itil
Polynesian
Simmons
and Graydon*’
19.6
0.7,
50.0
29.7
«0.449
543.
.007