The genetic hypothesis for the transmission of Australia antigen (HBsAg).

Exceptions have been cited which rule against the simple autosomal recessive hypothesis for the transmission of susceptibility to infection with Australia antigen (HBsAg). An attempt is made here to present a genetic model for a complex segregation analysis of a new and unique set of data to test this hypothesis. Regression techniques were used to estimate in four populations, age and sex-specific penetrance levels and the frequency of the gene whose product is hypothesized to be HBsAg. While the genetic hypothesis was not in general supported, observed deviations and their possible causes are discussed.