Quantitative evidence of a silent gene Po of human red cell acid phosphatase in south Polish population.

The distribution of red cell acid phosphatase types in 3244 unrelated Polish adults is reported. Gene frequencies Pa = 0.3594, Pb = 0.5643 and Pc = 0.0763 were obtained. In a forensic case of disputed paternity an apparent mother/child incompatibility respect to red cell acid phosphatase was found, the mother appearing as type B and the child as type A. Determination of acid phosphatase activity suggested the presence of a silent gene Po. The phosphatase levels were about half the values expected as determined in 237 adults representing the different phenotypes.