Abstract
SINCE the introduction of Fisher's theory and notation1 of the Rh blood-group system, the tendency has been to express phenotypes in terms of the probable genotype. This method is most convenient for European populations, where every common phenotype consists very largely of a single genotype ; but its extension to non-European populations usually involves serious ambiguities. In this and other connexions, there is an undoubted need for an unambiguous and generally understood phenotype notation expressed in Fisher's symbols, which would be available to supplement current practices. Several attempts have been made to express phenotypes with the use of these symbols, probably the earliest being that of Bushby2. The present proposals closely resemble those of Bushby ; but allowance is here made for the fact that the six typing sera (anti-C, D, E, c, d, e) are not usually all available as Bushby tacitly assumes. No originality is claimed for these proposals ; it is probable that other workers have thought of and used them independently ; and, in fact, when recently I was discussing an Rh problem with Dr. M. Bessis of Paris, we found that we had both for some time been using this system in working out Rh problems.
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References
Fisher, R. A., personal communication cited by Race, R. R., Nature, 153, 771 (1944).
Bushby, S. R. M., Lab. J., 8, 78 (1946).
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MOURANT, A. Rh Phenotypes and Fisher's CDE Notation. Nature 163, 913 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/163913a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/163913a0
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