ABO blood groups and human sex ratio at birth. 1975

T M Allan

In the aggregate of the seventeen published series of the ABO blood groups of newborn babies and their mothers (an aggregate totalling 53,679 mother-baby combinations) there are substantial reciprocal differences by maternal ABO blood group in respect of the ratio of male to female babies. The ratio is relatively low for AB babies of AB mothers plus A babies of A mothers, but is relatively high for non-AB babies of AB mothers plus non-A babies of A mothers. By contrast, the ratio is relatively high for O babies of O mothers plus B babies of B mothers, but (except in the aggregate of seven of the seventeen series, totalling 16,601 cases) is relatively low for non-O babies of O mothers plus non-B babies of B mothers. Disregarding the babies' blood groups, the sex-ratio is higher for higher for babies of AB than of non-AB mothers. Disregarding the mothers' blood groups, the sex ratio is lower for A than non-A babies, while in the author's own series, included above, the ratio is lower for A babies possessing than for those not possessing detectable A1 antigen. It is suggested that a possible cause of these differences is sex-differential fetal mortality caused by interaction of the ABO genes, and some of the sex-determining genes, with oestrogen and progesterone.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297 Male Males
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D005313 Fetal Death Death of the developing young in utero. BIRTH of a dead FETUS is STILLBIRTH. Fetal Mummification,Fetal Demise,Death, Fetal,Deaths, Fetal,Demise, Fetal,Fetal Deaths,Mummification, Fetal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000017 ABO Blood-Group System The major human blood type system which depends on the presence or absence of two antigens A and B. Type O occurs when neither A nor B is present and AB when both are present. A and B are genetic factors that determine the presence of enzymes for the synthesis of certain glycoproteins mainly in the red cell membrane. ABH Blood Group,ABO Blood Group,ABO Factors,Blood Group H Type 1 Antigen,H Blood Group,H Blood Group System,ABO Blood Group System,Blood Group, ABH,Blood Group, ABO,Blood Group, H,Blood-Group System, ABO,Factors, ABO,System, ABO Blood-Group
D012204 Rh-Hr Blood-Group System Erythrocyte isoantigens of the Rh (Rhesus) blood group system, the most complex of all human blood groups. The major antigen Rh or D is the most common cause of erythroblastosis fetalis. Rh Factors,Rhesus Blood-Group System,Antigen D, Rh Blood Group,Blood-Group System, Rh-Hr,Blood-Group System, Rhesus,Blood-Group Systems, Rh-Hr,Blood-Group Systems, Rhesus,Factor, Rh,Factors, Rh,Rh Factor,Rh Hr Blood Group System,Rh-Hr Blood-Group Systems,Rhesus Blood Group System,Rhesus Blood-Group Systems,System, Rh-Hr Blood-Group,System, Rhesus Blood-Group,Systems, Rh-Hr Blood-Group,Systems, Rhesus Blood-Group
D012744 Sex Ratio The number of males per 100 females. Ratio, Sex,Ratios, Sex,Sex Ratios

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