Model of the proposed mechanism causing the prevalent RHD negative haplotypes in whites. The physical structure of the RHD and RHCE gene locus is depicted (panel A). An unequal crossing over between the upstream and downstream Rhesus boxes can be triggered by their high homology (panel B). The breakpoint region in the Rhesus boxes was found to be of 100% homology for 903 bp. Resolving the crossed over chromosome yields the RH gene structure of the extant RHD negative haplotype (panel C).

see for original article:
Blood 95(2000)3662-8

last modified 19 Sept. 2000