Given evidence provided herein; including (a) lack of linkage between the reference SNPs (rs1175550G and rs143702418CGCA) in people of black descent in comparison to Caucasians; (b) the possible role of SMIM1 in malaria pathogenesis; and (c) the selective pressure malaria exerts on the human genome, suffice it to hypothesize that SMIM1 expression and its genetics in sub-Saharan Africa may differ from currently available data on this fascinating erythrocyte surface antigen. This evidence concerns the gene SMIM1 and malaria.