Abstract
The introduction and wide use of artificial insemination in cattle in the 1950s led to a need for accurate parentage identification. Blood group determination by means of the newly emerging scientific discipline called immunogenetics provided the answer. A blood group laboratory was consequently established at Onderstepoort in 1956, initially concentrating on the production of blood typing reagents. Once established the technology was also applied to studies on a variety of problems in various animals as summarised in this paper. Investigations include zygosity in cattle twins, blood transfusion in domestic animals, breed relationships, genetic polymorphisms and the identification of useful genetic markers for production and disease parameters in breeding programmes.
Highlights
The introduction and wide use of artificial insemination in cattle in the 1950s led to a need for accurate parentage identification
Studies on animal blood groups were performed in the USA and Europe but the real breakthrough came with the immunisation technique for the detection of antigens on the surface of erythrocytes
The author was very fortunate to have been at the University at Uppsala when a young graduate, Jan Rendel, returned from the USA to Sweden to start an animal blood group laboratory there
Summary
The introduction and wide use of artificial insemination in cattle in the 1950s led to a need for accurate parentage identification. Osterhoff D R Research on animal blood groups and biochemical polymorphisms at Onderstepoort (1956–1990). Studies on animal blood groups were performed in the USA and Europe but the real breakthrough came with the immunisation technique for the detection of antigens on the surface of erythrocytes.
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