17
Table 8
ABO, MN,Rh-Hr, and Duffy-Kell-Diego Frequency Among
Marshallese and Polynesians
ABO system
—
Marshallese
(present study)
Marshallese
(Simmons’*)
Polynesians
(Simmons and Graydon*')
Group
Gene frequency
No.
O
A
B
129
581
186
15
678
$2.2
21.4
122.1
138
39.1
60.9
0
Rh, Rh,
Rhrh
Rh,
97.7
23
0
Marshallese
(Simmons?)
90.6
0.7
0.3
Polvnesians
(Simmons and Graydon’')
19.6
0.7
29.7
(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 specimens that had been
stored for 16 months) indicates a need for verifica-
tion and clarification.
5) Other Systems:
Kell tests were 100% negative as previously reported. Diego* tests were 100% negative.
The failure to demonstrate the Diego factor in
anv of the studies conductedin this area ofthe
world is noteworthy. To date its absence in
Polynesians,?' Maoris,** and now in Marshallese
becomes a significant finding in view ofits occur-
rence in Mongoloids, Eskimos, and Amerin-
dians,**-** to whom Heyerdahl**credits the popu-
lation 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 homogenous population of the Marshall Islands with ex-
*We are indebted to Dr. Philip Levine who supplied the anu
Dit serum and Dr. Miguel Layrisse who supplied the Di* positive
ceils for control.
Type
Genefrequency
Pe
Fe
r.
M
MN
N
m
n
8.2
0.789
0.116
0095
62
155
783
0.14
0.86
5.3
0.723
0.135
0.134 (10)
(19)
(71)
0.22
0.78
0
0.626
0.374
0.10
47.8
32.6
0435
0.565
Phenotype Rh-Hr
Marshallese
MNsystem
19.6
Genefrequency
Rh,Rh,
R'
R?
Duffy, Kell, Diego
R°
Fy+
K+
0.985 0
0.15
89.2
0
0
8.0
0.951
0.04
0.006
-
-
50.0
0.449
0.543
0.007
0
0
100
74.6
D+
tremes of gene frequencies. With some reservations 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
exists, and a similar high frequency of the R' chromosomeis seen.
The absolute absence of the Diego factor, the
extremely low incidence of the M gene, andthe ©
unusually high R' chromosomefrequencyof the