THE BLOOD OROUPS OB MARINE ANIMALS
91
equilibrium leads to other considerations as for example re-examination
of the hypothesis of the nature of the genetic system involved, the
investigation of the possibility that the sample may have been taken
from a mixture of populations away from their breeding grounds, and
the search for ecological factors that may be upsetting the potential
equilibrium.
Obviously studies on the genetics of blood groups such 8s those
just referred to must utilize statistical methods and the mathematics
of population genetics in evaluating their significance. Treatment of
these subjects are to be found in references cited in the introduction.
The reader should be alert to the repeated warnings of Wiener and
others that statistics should not be confused with actual dab, and that
the gathering of such data demanda continuing maintenance of technical skill in all its phaaes.
Marine organisms are generally not amenable to genetic experimentation, so that the genetic interpretation of data on blood group
phenotypes must be to a great extent inferential. The strength of the
inferences involved is well shown by the statement of Stormont
(1961) that: “. . . It is axiomatic in immunogenetics that all blood
factors are inherited traits which are subject to little or no influence
by the environment. Consequently, any differences which two or
more subpopulations may exhibit with respect to the incidence of
common blood factors are fully meaningful even in the absence of
information concerning the inheritance of blood factors. . . .” Stonnont
notes further that the resolving power and definitiveness of data
increase when comparison can be made on the baais of phenogroups
in recognized genetic systems, and comments on criteria that can be
used to assign blood factors to their proper genetic systems in the
absence of data on gene segregation. These criteria include the relations among gene frequency estimates of the sort referred to in the
preceding paragraphs and such as were used by Bernstein in &signing
the human A and B factors to the same rather than different genetic
systems. Linear and non-linear cross-reactions showing sub-typing
relationships, and dosage reactions provide additioml criteria the
majority of which have been applied in various combinations in the
studies reported below.
Some specific points are to be emphasized that support the general
inference that the blood group phenotypes of marine forme are controlled by genetic mechanisms like those already known in other forms.
E’irst, the inheritance of agglutinogens haa been demonstrated in the
goldfish by Hildemann (1966) and in trout by Ridgway (1962b) and
sanders and Wright (1902). Family data have also been oollected for
91
equilibrium leads to other considerations as for example re-examination
of the hypothesis of the nature of the genetic system involved, the
investigation of the possibility that the sample may have been taken
from a mixture of populations away from their breeding grounds, and
the search for ecological factors that may be upsetting the potential
equilibrium.
Obviously studies on the genetics of blood groups such 8s those
just referred to must utilize statistical methods and the mathematics
of population genetics in evaluating their significance. Treatment of
these subjects are to be found in references cited in the introduction.
The reader should be alert to the repeated warnings of Wiener and
others that statistics should not be confused with actual dab, and that
the gathering of such data demanda continuing maintenance of technical skill in all its phaaes.
Marine organisms are generally not amenable to genetic experimentation, so that the genetic interpretation of data on blood group
phenotypes must be to a great extent inferential. The strength of the
inferences involved is well shown by the statement of Stormont
(1961) that: “. . . It is axiomatic in immunogenetics that all blood
factors are inherited traits which are subject to little or no influence
by the environment. Consequently, any differences which two or
more subpopulations may exhibit with respect to the incidence of
common blood factors are fully meaningful even in the absence of
information concerning the inheritance of blood factors. . . .” Stonnont
notes further that the resolving power and definitiveness of data
increase when comparison can be made on the baais of phenogroups
in recognized genetic systems, and comments on criteria that can be
used to assign blood factors to their proper genetic systems in the
absence of data on gene segregation. These criteria include the relations among gene frequency estimates of the sort referred to in the
preceding paragraphs and such as were used by Bernstein in &signing
the human A and B factors to the same rather than different genetic
systems. Linear and non-linear cross-reactions showing sub-typing
relationships, and dosage reactions provide additioml criteria the
majority of which have been applied in various combinations in the
studies reported below.
Some specific points are to be emphasized that support the general
inference that the blood group phenotypes of marine forme are controlled by genetic mechanisms like those already known in other forms.
E’irst, the inheritance of agglutinogens haa been demonstrated in the
goldfish by Hildemann (1966) and in trout by Ridgway (1962b) and
sanders and Wright (1902). Family data have also been oollected for