Sequence comparison of baboon ABO histo-blood group alleles: Lesions found in O alleles differ between human and baboon

Histo-blood group O has only rarely been observed in baboon. Recent discovery of such an animal has provided us the opportunity to investigate the molecular genetics of the ABO locus in baboons, The major baboon prototype O allele, observed in two homozygous and several heterozygous animals, is related to the A allele as is the case in humans, Additional apparent prototype O alleles have been observed in heterozygotes, one of which is related to the B allele, The nucleotide changes conferring the O phenotype in the two known human O alleles have not been observed in any baboon allele. This information will aid the identification of baboons useful for the development of xenotransplantation in humans.