Understanding Blood & Blood TypeUnderstanding Blood & Blood Type

Experiments with blood Experiments with blood transfusions, have been carried transfusions, have been carried out for hundreds of years. out for hundreds of years. Mixing blood from two Mixing blood from two individuals can lead to blood individuals can lead to blood clumping. The clumped red cells clumping. The clumped red cells can crack and cause toxic can crack and cause toxic reactions. This can have fatal reactions. This can have fatal consequences. consequences. In 1901, Karl Landsteiner In 1901, Karl Landsteiner discovered that blood clumping discovered that blood clumping occurred when the receiver of a occurred when the receiver of a blood transfusion had antibodies blood transfusion had antibodies against the donor. against the donor.

His work made it possible to His work made it possible to determine determine blood typesblood types and and thus paved the way for safe thus paved the way for safe blood transfusions. blood transfusions.

What are antigens & antibodies?What are antigens & antibodies?

The differences in human blood are due to the The differences in human blood are due to the presence or absence of certain protein molecules presence or absence of certain protein molecules called called antigensantigens and and antibodiesantibodies. .

The The antigensantigens are proteins located on the surface of are proteins located on the surface of the red blood cells’ plasma membrane. the red blood cells’ plasma membrane.

The The antibodiesantibodies are proteins in the blood plasma. are proteins in the blood plasma.

                 

     

 

What are the different blood groups?What are the different blood groups?Individuals have different types and Individuals have different types and combinations of these molecules. combinations of these molecules.

The blood group you belong to depends The blood group you belong to depends on what you have inherited from your on what you have inherited from your parents. parents.

What happens when different blood What happens when different blood types are mixed?types are mixed?

Not all blood groups are compatible with each Not all blood groups are compatible with each other. other.

Mixing incompatible blood groups leads to Mixing incompatible blood groups leads to blood clumping or blood clumping or agglutinationagglutination, which is , which is dangerous for individuals. dangerous for individuals.

This occurs because the antibodies of the This occurs because the antibodies of the recipients’ blood attach to the antigens of the recipients’ blood attach to the antigens of the donor blood.donor blood.

The red blood cells are linked together, like The red blood cells are linked together, like bunches of grapes, by the antibodies. bunches of grapes, by the antibodies.

What is the Rh Factor?What is the Rh Factor?Many people also have the Rh factor.Many people also have the Rh factor.This is also an antigen found the surface of the red This is also an antigen found the surface of the red blood cell. blood cell. Those who have the antigen are called Rh+. Those who have the antigen are called Rh+. Those who don't, are called Rh-. Those who don't, are called Rh-. A person with Rh- blood can A person with Rh- blood can developdevelop Rh antibodies in Rh antibodies in the blood plasma if Rh+ blood is received. The Rh the blood plasma if Rh+ blood is received. The Rh antigens can trigger the production of Rh antibodies. antigens can trigger the production of Rh antibodies. A person with Rh+ blood can receive blood from a A person with Rh+ blood can receive blood from a person with Rh- blood without any problems. person with Rh- blood without any problems.

              

              

How is blood type genetically How is blood type genetically determined?determined?

Blood type is determined by the Blood type is determined by the ABOABO & & RhRh genes.genes.The ABO genes are determined by The ABO genes are determined by multiplemultiple and and co-dominantco-dominant alleles. alleles. Remember that an allele is one of several Remember that an allele is one of several different forms of a gene. different forms of a gene. There are three different alleles for human blood There are three different alleles for human blood type: Itype: IAA ,I ,IB B , & i , & iSince there are 3 different alleles, there are 6 Since there are 3 different alleles, there are 6 different possible different possible genotypes genotypes and 4 different and 4 different possiblepossible phenotypes phenotypes. .

Phenotype/Phenotype/Blood TypeBlood Type GenotypeGenotype MeaningMeaning

OO

IIAAi or Ii or IAA I IAA

A & B antigens are A & B antigens are presentpresent

iiNeither A nor B

antigens are present

AOnly the A antigen is

present

B IBi or IB IB Only the B antigen is present

AB IAIB

Blood Transfusions - who can receive Blood Transfusions - who can receive blood from whom? blood from whom?

The transfusion will work if a person who The transfusion will work if a person who is going to receive blood has a blood is going to receive blood has a blood group that does group that does NOTNOT have any have any antibodies antibodies against the donor blood's antigensagainst the donor blood's antigens..

But if a person who is going to receive But if a person who is going to receive blood has antibodies matching the donor blood has antibodies matching the donor blood's antigens, the red blood cells in the blood's antigens, the red blood cells in the donated blooddonated blood will clump. will clump.

Play Blood Typing Game

Blood Blood TypesTypes

AntigensAntigens AntibodiesAntibodies Can give Can give blood toblood to

Can receive Can receive blood fromblood from

ABAB A & BA & B nonenone ABAB AB, A, B, OAB, A, B, O

AA AA BB A & ABA & AB A & OA & O

BB BB AA B & ABB & AB B & OB & O

OO nonenone A & BA & B AB, A, B, AB, A, B, OO

OO

•The Universal Donor can donate blood to any blood type.

•Which blood type is the Universal Donor?

•The Universal Recipient can receive blood from any blood type.

•Which blood type is the Universal Recipient?

Practice Problems!Practice Problems!

Give the possible genotypes & Give the possible genotypes & phenotypes of the following crosses.phenotypes of the following crosses.

1.1. IIAAIIAA x I x IBBiiGenotypes: IGenotypes: IAAIIB B IIAAii

Phenotypes: AB, APhenotypes: AB, A

2.2. IIBBi x Ii x IAAiiGenotypes: IGenotypes: IAAIIB B IIBBii IIAAi iii ii

Phenotypes: AB, B, A, OPhenotypes: AB, B, A, O

3.3. Type O x Type ABType O x Type ABGenotypes: IGenotypes: IAAi Ii IBBii

Phenotypes: A, BPhenotypes: A, B

At the hospital, 2 newborn babies were At the hospital, 2 newborn babies were accidentally mixed up and the parents accidentally mixed up and the parents questioned which baby belonged to questioned which baby belonged to whom. The blood groups of everyone whom. The blood groups of everyone involved is listed below. Determine involved is listed below. Determine which baby belongs to which couple.which baby belongs to which couple.Baby 1 – Type ABaby 1 – Type A Mr. Brown – Type ABMr. Brown – Type ABBaby 2 – Type OBaby 2 – Type O Mrs. Brown – Type BMrs. Brown – Type B

Mr. Smith – Type BMr. Smith – Type BMrs. Smith – Type BMrs. Smith – Type B

Who’s Baby is it?

Who’s baby is it? answer…Who’s baby is it? answer…

Baby 1 has to belong to Mr. & Mrs. Brown. Baby 1 has to belong to Mr. & Mrs. Brown. There is no way that they could create a There is no way that they could create a Type O (ii) baby when only one parent Type O (ii) baby when only one parent could possibly contain the I allele.could possibly contain the I allele.

Baby 2 has to belong to Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Baby 2 has to belong to Mr. & Mrs. Smith. There is no way that they could create a There is no way that they could create a Type A (IType A (IAA I IAA, I, IAAi) baby with out either i) baby with out either carrying the Icarrying the IAA allele. allele.

Which child is adopted?Which child is adopted?The Tyler family has three kids, one of which The Tyler family has three kids, one of which is adopted. The blood types of the parents is adopted. The blood types of the parents and children are listed below. Determine and children are listed below. Determine which child is adopted.which child is adopted.

Mom-Type ABMom-Type AB John- John- Type BType B

Dad-Dad- Type O Type O Martha- Martha- Type ABType AB

Zackary- Zackary- Type AType A

Which child is adopted? Which child is adopted? ANSWERANSWER

Martha (IMartha (IAAIIBB) is adopted because Dad is ) is adopted because Dad is Type O (ii) and could not have given Type O (ii) and could not have given either of her two alleles.either of her two alleles.

Dr. Charles DrewDr. Charles DrewToday's American Red Cross Today's American Red Cross blood program is the result of blood program is the result of the efforts of Dr. Charles R. the efforts of Dr. Charles R. Drew, an African-American Drew, an African-American blood specialist, surgeon, blood specialist, surgeon, educator and scientist. educator and scientist.

His pioneering work in blood His pioneering work in blood collection, plasma processing collection, plasma processing and transfusion laid the and transfusion laid the foundation for modern blood foundation for modern blood banking. banking.

Timeline

Did you Know?Did you Know?That Drew attended Amherst College in Massachusetts, then That Drew attended Amherst College in Massachusetts, then medical school at Montreal's McGill University in Canada. medical school at Montreal's McGill University in Canada. At Amherst College, Drew received an athletic scholarship and At Amherst College, Drew received an athletic scholarship and was made captain of the school’s track team and winner of the was made captain of the school’s track team and winner of the football team's most valuable player award. football team's most valuable player award. That he made many of his discoveries on blood while doing That he made many of his discoveries on blood while doing graduate research at Columbia University in New York City. graduate research at Columbia University in New York City. That Drew became the first African American to receive a That Drew became the first African American to receive a Doctor of Medical Science degree from Columbia University. Doctor of Medical Science degree from Columbia University. That he returned to his hometown of Washington, D.C., from That he returned to his hometown of Washington, D.C., from the Red Cross blood project in New York and continued to the Red Cross blood project in New York and continued to teach the next generation of African American doctors as a teach the next generation of African American doctors as a professor of surgery at Howard University. professor of surgery at Howard University.