Recognition of a Further Common Rh Genotype in Man

Abstract

SINCE the publication of a recent communication¹ on the subject of Rh genotypes certain advances have been made. The point had been reached, as described in that communication, where by the use of three different forms of anti-Rh sera, the genotypes of about 68 per cent of the population could be recognized, and five allelomorphs could be distinguished. Since then we have found a serum, described at a meeting of the Royal Society of Medicine on November 2, 1943, which, when used in combination with the other three, makes recognizable the genotype of about 80 per cent of people and defines two further allelomorphs, making seven in all. More recently a letter (see below) has come from Wiener describing all these allelomorphs except Rh_y. We will use Wiener's names, which are Rh₁, Rh₂, rh, Rh′ (rh dot), Rh″ (Rh_x) but for the gene Wiener calls Rh (Rh₁ bar) we prefer Rh₀, for Rh has for so long had a much wider meaning. The names we have used¹ and are now abandoning are given in brackets. Rh_y we will continue to use.