Blood Group Antigens

Like humans, great apes show polymorphisms defined by immunogenic molecules in blood cells and plasma, which are accompanied with the spontaneous occurrence of antibodies to the structures absent in a given individual. The human ABO blood group system is of great clinical importance in transfusion and transplantation, and with a few exceptions remains polymorphic in most human populations. So far, Chimpanzees have been found to only exhibit AO polymorphisms and gorillas only BO polymorphisms. Rh blood polymorphism also exists in chimpanzees, who lack at least one of its human alleles and carry a uniquely chimpanzee allele. Unlike humans, great apes have additional copies of the Rh gene.