Kidd and MNS gene frequencies in Algeria.

Red blood cell phenotyping using micro-methods was carried out for Kidd (JK) and MNS systems in Algeria. The number of subjects tested was 3495 and 4388 respectively. Gene frequencies were estimated by the maximum likelihood method. The distribution of JKa seems to follow a West-South East-South gradient, whereas the MNS haplotypes show a heterogeneous distribution. Our results indicate an intermediate status of the Algerian population between Negroids and Caucasoids: JKa and MS haplotypes are medium, while MSU and NSU show low frequencies.