A Blood Factor in the Marmoset, Saguinus fuscicollis - its Detection, Mode of Inheritance, and Species Specificity1

Abstract

A blood factor has been identified in the marmoset, Saguinus fuscicollis illigeri, with an isoimmune serum developed in this species. Tests suggest the following characteristics of this factor: (1) it is inherited as a simple Mendelian dominant; (2) it is not present in other species of Saguinus, and within the S. fuscicollis species appears to be limited to one subspecies, S.f illigeri; and (3) it has proven to be useful in detecting red blood cell chimerism. Preliminary quantitative data suggest that the percentage red and white cell chimerism in marmosets is the same. Because of the apparent restriction of the factor to the S.f illigeri subspecies, we have tentatively designated the factor as (s.f.)A^i, where the subscript s.f. identifies the genus and species and the superscript i the subspecies. Such a notation or one similar to it may be necessary in reporting blood factors in the marmoset because of the great diversity of animals in this family of primates.