Why Do Blood Types Matter?

Dr. Natalie Hodge talks us through the differences that they do (and don’t) make:

If you prick us, do we not bleed?

First, know this: antigens are proteins on the surface of red blood cells that act like identification markers, helping your immune system distinguish your own cells from foreign ones.

The two key antigens are A and B, which determine the ABO blood types, because:

• A and B are dominant over O
• A and B are codominant with each other

Thus:

• AA or AO produces type A
• BB or BO produces type B
• AB produces type AB
• OO produces type O

Receiving incompatible blood can trigger immune attacks because antibodies recognize foreign antigens and may cause dangerous clotting, but it doesn’t have to be the exact same type, because:

• Universal recipient: people with AB blood can receive A, B, AB, or O blood because they don’t produce anti-A or anti-B antibodies
  • …because if they did, they’d already have an immune disorder so severe that they’d die very quickly!
• Universal donor: people with O blood can donate to all ABO types because their red blood cells lack A and B antigens
  • …because if they did, they (by definition) wouldn’t have type O blood!

As for rhesus factor (named after rhesus monkeys!), Rh+ means the D antigen is present, while Rh- means it is absent. For most people, this doesn’t make any difference, though it can occasionally cause complications in pregnancy if there’s a mismatch.

There are some myths about blood types, including that blood type determines personality, or one’s ideal diet. There is no science to those myths.

For more on all of this, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

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Take care!