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Sibship Asymmetries of Rhesus Blood Groups in the Presence of Maternal Antibodies
Author(s) -
Knox E. G.,
Battey Diana A.,
Bird G. W. G.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1979.tb04418.x
Subject(s) - genotyping , haplotype , fetus , antibody , genetics , biology , genotype , blood group antigens , gene , pregnancy
. The genotypes of the children of R 1 r, R 2 r, and R 1 R 2 fathers, and Rh‐immunized rr mothers, were examined. R 1 r fathers had an excess of R 1 r over rr children, and R 1 R 2 fathers had an excess of R 1 r over R 2 r children. These asymmetries confirm the findings of a previous study. The possibilities of artefactual self‐selection, of genotyping errors, and of errors in assigning paternity, were examined and excluded. Alternative models of genetic transmission and of antigenic structure were studied, but no basis for explaining the findings was found or formulated. Three possible biological explanations were formulated including (a) asymmetric segregation of the rhesus genes, (b) selective early fetal loss, and (c) a selective effect upon the performance of sperms bearing different haplotypes. The first of these three appeared unlikely. The data did not provide a basis for supporting or rejecting or differentiating the other two.