Blood types were first discovered in 1901 by Austrian immunologist, Karl Landsteiner. The classification of human blood is based on the inherited properties of red blood cells as determined by the presence or absence of the antigens A and B, which are carried on the surface of the red cells. So what is the difference between types A,B,AB and O blood?
This picture demonstrates the possibilities of different blood types and their characteristics.
Blood Type is Hereditary
Hereditary is defined as genetic factors that are able to be passed on from parents to their offspring or descendants. If someone has blood type A, they must have at least one copy of the A allele, but they could have two copies. Someone who is type B must have at least one copy of the B allele. Alleles are one or two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Blood types are either positive or negative. It is important to note that blood cells do not have a charge, the + or – is used to determind specific traits of the cell. For example, the + or – is determined on wether or not the blood cell has the antigen “Rh factor”. If there is a + attached to your blood type, the antigen is present; if there is a – next to your blood type, the antigen is not present.
So What?
Dealing with blood types is very interesting because, according to “Scientific American”, blood type may affect brain function as we age, concluded from a new large, long-term study. However those with AB show a 10% increase of having cognitive problems. From that same study, it was determined that…
- Children with B blood type may have a lower risk of attention-deficit disorder.
- People with A blood type may be more prone to obsessive-compulsive disorder; children may be at a greater risk of attention-deficit disorder.
- People with O blood type may be more likely to have depression and intense anxiety; children may be at a greater risk of attention-deficit disorder.
In addition to blood types affecting health, blood types also contribute to a persons personality. According to James and Peter D’Adamo’s work, type A tends to be cooperative, sensitive, clever, passionate and smart where type B people tend to be balanced, thoughtful and ambitious.
Blood type’s current impact on society is very crucial because it gives insight to future diseases, the ability to donate blood to those who need it, and for new born babies be a backbone for their personality.
Comment your blood type below!
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With the chart, the reason O blood is able to give blood to both A and B types of blood because it has no antigens. This allows for the antibodies in A and B blood types to not be activated to fight off the blood antigens. On the other hand, O blood cant receive either A or B blood because it contains both antibodies for A and B blood antibodies. O negative is safer because the negative will only trigger a creation of antibodies but would not activate them.
http://livehealthy.chron.com/can-type-o-blood-given-anyone-10193.html