ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the difference and similarity between Hans and Uighurs in regard to Rhesus box and its significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The sequence specific primers of upstream, downstream and hybrid Rhesus boxes were designed on the basis of RHD gene sequence. The upstream, downstream and hybrid Rhesus boxes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer(PCP-SSP) and mismatched PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentage of RHD-/RHD-, RHD+/RHD- and RHD+/RHD+ genotypes ascertained in the unrelated Hans with RhD(-) were 61.40%, 34.21% and 4.39% respectively, while those in the unrelated Chinese Uighurs with RhD(-) were 94.44%, 2.78% and 2.78% respectively. Furthermore, all 6 cases of some other minorities were RHD-/RHD- types. The percentage of RHD-/RHD- and RHD+/RHD- genotypes ascertained in the unrelated Chinese Uighurs were significantly higher than those in Chinese Hans (P < 0.01), whereas no statistically significant difference in the percentage of RHD+/RDH+ genotype between the two groups was observed (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Rh blood group of Uighurs in Xingjiang possesses both Oriental and Caucasian characteristics, which embodies a special ethnical aspect of the Chinese nation and is in accord with the anthropologic research results.</p>