Duffy

Duf·fy

adj \ˈdəf-ē\

Definition of DUFFY

: relating to, characteristic of, or being a system of blood groups determined by the presence or absence of any of several antigens in red blood cells <Duffy blood group system> <Duffy antigens> <Duffy blood typing>

Biographical Note for DUFFY

Duffy, Richard (1906–1956), British hemophiliac. In 1949 Duffy was given a blood transfusion after having developed a large hematoma on his chest. When he developed a reaction to the transfusion, the research unit at London's Postgraduate Medical School compared samples of his blood with donor blood and discovered the existence of a new blood group system. In 1950 the researchers, Marie Cutbush, Patrick L. Mollison, and Dorothy M. Parkin, reported their discovery in a letter to Nature and named the blood group system in honor of the patient.