Explanation:

The evolution of human blood groups, without doubt, has a history as old as man himself. There are at least three hypotheses about the emergence and mutation of human blood groups. Global distribution pattern of blood groups depends on various environmental factors, such as disease, climate, altitude, humidity etc. In this survey, the collection of main blood groups ABO and Rh, ALONG with some minor groups, are presented. Several investigations of blood groups from Iran, particularly a LARGE sampling on 291857 individuals from Iran, including the main blood groups ABO and Rh, as well as minor blood groups such as Duffy, Lutheran, Kell, KP, Kidd, and Xg, have been reviewed.

Keywords: Major blood groups, ABO, Rh, Minor blood groups, Iran.

urant design 1958) are shown in FIGURES 3 to to55(4). The geographical spread not only is a result of the above assumptions, but the current process of natural selection against environmental factors such as diseases, climate, humidity, altitude and etc. will continue.

Geographical distribution of blood group A, percentage (Mourant 1958.

Geographical distribution of blood group O, percentage (Mourant 1958)

After discovery of the first human blood groups (ABO) by Karl Landsteiner in 1901 (5), gradually from 1927, other blood groups were also discovered and reported which its collection is given in Table 2. It is important to mention that Landsteiner together with his AMERICAN colleague Alexander Wiener discovered the Rh blood group and reported it in 1940, 1941.