GENETICAL LINKAGE BETWEEN THE <i>ABO</i> AND NAIL‐PATELLA LOCI

Abstract

Summary Six human families exhibiting the nail‐patella syndrome have been studied to test for linkage between the nail‐patella locus and the loci of the ABO, MNS , Rhesu 3 , P , Lewis, Kell, Lutheran and Duffy blood groups. Five of these families have contributed information, and a linkage between the ABO and nail‐patella loci has been demonstrated with a significance level of 1 in 6 × 10 8 . The possibility of association between one ABO blood group and the nail‐patella syndrome has been excluded. The recombination value, if homogeneity is assumed, is 10‐4%± 3‐2 % by the maximum likelihood method, and the question of homogeneity has been discussed. No linkage has been demonstrated with the other blood‐group loci, nor is there any evidence of partial sex linkage. The full details of the families have been placed in the archives of the Galton Laboratory.