EVOLUTION AS SEEN IN SEROLOGICAL TESTS 



121 



FIG. 6.5. Serological relationships of the musk ox to other members of Family Bovidae. 

 Turbidity (photronreflectometer) tests. Abscisscl scale is in percentage, the strength of 

 the homologous reaction with each antiserum being designated as 100 percent. (Drawn 

 by Melton M. Miller, Jr.; from Moody, "Serological evidence on the relationships of 

 the musk ox," Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 39, 1958, p. 557.) 



when tested with beef serum. Incidentally, the tests also indicated the 

 known close relationship to each other of sheep and goats, as well as that 

 of beef and bison. 



Serology could make valuable contributions toward solving many other 

 enigmas of relationship. Serological investigation of the interrelationships 

 of marsupials (see pp. 261-264) has been made by Wemyss (1953), and of 

 flesh-eating mammals. Order Carnivora, by Leone and Wiens (1956) and 

 by Pauly and Wolfe (1957). 



New techniques employing the separation of proteins migrating in an 

 electric field (electrophoresis) are being developed and will doubdess con- 

 tribute to future studies of animal relationships (Woods, et al., 1958; Sibley 

 and Johnsgard, 1959). 



Blood Groups 



Nearly everyone is acquainted with the fact that all human beings belong 

 to one or another of four blood groups. The latter are designated as group 

 A, group B, group AB, and group O. The group to which one belongs de- 

 pends upon the presence or absence in his red blood cells of two protein 

 substances (antigens) designated A and B. The presence of these anti- 

 gens can be detected by serological means. Persons who belong to group A 

 have substance A only in their cells. Persons belonging to group B have 

 substance B only. Both substances are present in the red blood cells of per- 

 sons belonging to group AB; neither substance is present in the cells of 



