The Rh phenotype r'r' in Polynesians

Since 1970, 19 persons with the r'r' phenotype have been detected at the Auckland Blood Transfusion Centre. All have been Maoris or Pacific Islanders. This study reports the detailed serological investigations on 11 r'r' samples. No evidence was found for the presence of the Du antigen, and there was no evidence that the Polynesian r' was related to the Negroid r'. It is postulated that the r' (Cde) of Polynesians arose from a mutation of CDe. No morphological abnormalities of r'r' red cells were found. Blood samples were also tested for various high- and low-frequency antigens, and one specimen was found to be r'r' Jk(a-b-).