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Blood Group Mythology: Present Status*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2025

Alexander S. Wiener
Alexander S. Wiener*
Affiliation:
Serological Laboratory, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, and Department of Forensic Medicine, University Medical School, New York, N.Y., USA

Abstract

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The discovery of a great multiplicity of previously unknown facts and principles has served to develop the field of blood grouping into an important complex science. The formidable task of mastering the now highly complex field of blood grouping has been facilitated by the avallability of a comprehensive text on almost all aspects of the subject, which is now in its sixth edition. This invaluable source book is widely used by advanced workers in the field as well as by beginners, and is treated as the bible on the subject to the exclusion of all other texts. However, the so-called bible has serious scientific faults in that important basic principies are ignored, and certain important basic facts are distorted or misrepresented. Fortunately, other texts are available which are free of these faults, and the use of a single book as the sole source of knowledge concerning the subject has by implication given rise to the myth that the book in question is infallible and may be used alone to the exclusion of all other sources of information. The purpose of the present review has been, not to detract from the well recognized merits of the important “blood group bible” but to point out its limitations, and to point out the existence of other sources which, while not as comprehensive, are free of mythology. If this review serves to remind the readers to consult other sources in addition to the blood group bible, it will have served its purpose, and this may lead to further advances in the field of blood grouping as well as help do away with the thriving field of blood group mythology.

Riassunto

RIASSUNTO

La scoperta di un gran numero di fatti e principi precedentemente ignorati ha condotto il campo dei gruppi sanguigni a svilupparsi in una disciplina importante e complessa. L'arduo compito di padroneggiare questa materia ormai tanto vasta è stato facilitato dalla disponibilità di un testo che ne tratta quasi tutti gli aspetti e che è ora giunto alla sua sesta edizione. Questo preziosissimo testo è ampiamente usato da ricercatori e studenti ed è considerato come una bibbia che escluda l'uso di altri testi. Tuttavia, questa cosiddetta bibbia presenta gravi errori scientifici in quanto principi fondamentali vengono ignorati ed alcuni fatti importanti vengono distorti. Fortunatamente, esistono altri testi che sono privi di tali errori. L'uso di un testo come unica fonte di informazione sull'argomento ha portato al mito dell'infallibilità di tale testo e del suo uso esclusivo. L'obbiettivo di questa rassegna non è quello di togliere a questa «bibbia dei gruppi sanguigni» i suoi meriti indiscussi, bensì di indicarne i limiti e di ricordare l'esistenza di altre fonti che, benché non altrettanto ampie, sono prive di mitologia. Se questa rassegna riuscirà a far consultare altre fonti, oltre la bibbia dei gruppi sanguigni, essa sarà servita al suo scopo e ciò potrà condurre ad ulteriori progressi nel campo dei gruppi sanguigni eliminandone i miti.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉ

La découverte d'un grand nombre de faits et principes précédemment ignorés a conduit le secteur des groupes sanguins à se développer dans une discipline importante et complexe. La lourde tâche de maîtriser cette vaste matière a été facilitée par l'existence d'un texte qui en traite presque tous les aspects et qui se trouve maintenant à sa sixième édition. Ce texte bien précieux est utilisé par les experts et les moins experts comme s'il s'agissait d'une bible, à l'exclusion de tout autre texte. Mais cette «bible» présente des erreurs scientifiques, des principes fondamentaux y étant ignorés et des faits importants déformés. Heureusement, d'autres textes existent qui ne présentent pas de ces fautes. L'usage d'un texte comme source unique d'information a conduit au mythe de son infaillibilité. Le but de cette revue n'est pas d'enlever à cette «bible des groupes sanguins» ses mérits indiscutables, mais d'en indiquer les limites et de rappeler l'existence d'autres textes qui, tout en n'étant pas aussi complets, sont libres de mythologie. Cette revue aura atteint son but si d'autres textes seront consultés à côté de la bible des groupes sanguins, ce qui pourra conduire à d'autres progrès dans la discipline des groupes sanguins en éliminant les mythes qui la caractérisent.

Zusammenfassung

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Die Entdeckung zahlreicher zuvor unbekannter Prinzipien und Tatsachen hat dazu beigetragen, daß sich das Gebiet der Blutgruppen zu einem wichtigen und vielseitigen Forschungsfeld entwickelt hat. Um diesen nunmehr so komplex gewordenen Fachstoff beherrschen zu können, verfügen wir über ein Lehrbuch, das fast alle seine Aspekte behandelt und bereits bei der 6. Auflage angelangt ist. Forscher und Studenten verwenden dieses kostbare Werk weitgehendst und betrachten es gleichsam als eine Bibel, die die Konsultation anderer Texte überflüssig macht. Diese sogenannte Bibel weist aber schwerwiegende wissenschaftliche Fehler auf, weil darin grundsätzliche Prinzipien übergangen und andere wesentliche Tatsachen verdreht werden. Zum Glück gibt es noch andere Werke ohne solche Fehler. Die Tatsache, daß dieser Text als einzige Informationsquelle über das Gebiet benutzte wurde, verschaffte ihm den Mythos der Unfehlbarkeit und seiner exklusiven Anwendung. Die vorliegende Übersicht möchte dieser Bibel der Blutgruppen ihre unumstrittenen Verdienste nicht nehmen, sondern nur ihre Grenzen anzeigen und daran erinnern, daß noch andere Quellen existieren, die zwar weniger weitläufig, aber von keinem Mythos umgeben sind. Wenn infolge dieser Übersicht andere Quellen außer der Blutgruppen-Bibel konsultiert würden, so hätte sie schon ihren Zweck erreicht, d.h. ohne jeden Mythos zu weiterem Fortschritt auf dem Gebiet der Blutgruppen zu führen.

Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , January 1977 , pp. 3 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1977

Footnotes

†

Shortly after submitting this paper, Dr. Alexander S. Wiener passed away, on 6 November 1976. This paper is now published by Acta Geneticae Medicae et Gemellologiae as a tribute to the memory of a most distinguished Master and a dearest Friend

*

Presented before the American Association of Blood Banks, by invitation, as a special lecture on November 13, 1975, in Chicago, Illinois.

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