The Gerbich Blood Group System, Especially in Melanesians

Abstract

Abstract. Investigations of the Gerbich blood group system in Melanesians of Papua/ New Guinea are described. Over 50% of members of certain population groups are Gerbich negative, and anti‐Ge a (‘naturally‐occurring’) is present in about 10% of Ge (a‐) people. The distribution of populations with high Ge (a‐) incidence is not explicable at present. A Gerbich antibody (anti‐Ge 1) with a new specificity has been investigated, and the following phenotypes are now distinguishable: Ge 1, 2, 3 (some Melanesians and almost all others), Ge ‐1, 2, 3 (some Melanesians), Ge ‐1, ‐2, 3 (‘Yus’ type, not found in Melanesians), Ge ‐1, ‐2, ‐3 (Gerbich negatives).