Variations of H, A and B antigen strengths among Melanesians

Melanesians of groups O, A1 and B all show greater variation of H antigen strength than do Caucasians. This is least marked in O bloods. Although the average H content of Melanesian and Caucasian samples did not differ significantly, 10% of O and over 20% of A1 and B bloods from coastal Austronesian speakers had higher H than was found among Caucasians, There is evidence that some non-Austronesian populations in New Guinea have twice this incidence of A1 high H. Melanesian and Bantu H, A1 and B genes appear to function similarly, in that their B genes act more effectively than Caucasian, their A1 genes less so, while H produces greater variation. It is suggested that this gene interaction, rather than the significantly greater availability of H or substrate in the Bantu, causes the observed variations from the Caucasian pattern found in the other races. Subjects with selective antigenic depression were excluded from the comparative studies, but the relevance of this phenomenon to apparent H content in Melanesians is discussed.