Data on linkage in man: ovalocytosis, sickling and the Rhesus blood group complex

Summary 1. Two families are reported in which linkage between the gene controlling ovalocytosis and that of the Rhesus blood group complex is present. In those individuals where cross‐overs could have been detected none was in fact found in either family. 2. In the first pedigree the propositus was a West African negro of genotype cDe/cde (RQr) and as far as we know this is the first time that the linkage with ovalocytosis has been shown to occur with the cDe Rhesus combination. 3. In family I some of the relatives of the propositus were found to be sicklers and the data suggest the possibility that the locus controlling the trait is linked with that of blood group P. However, the findings could easily be due to chance and further pedigrees need to be investigated.