How is your blood type determaned?

Blood type is determined by the presence or absence of specific antigens on the surface of red blood cells. Antigens are proteins or sugar molecules that can trigger an immune response. There are two main types of blood group antigens: A and B. People with type A blood have A antigens on their red blood cells, people with type B blood have B antigens, people with type AB blood have both A and B antigens, and people with type O blood have neither A nor B antigens.

In addition to the ABO blood group, there is also the Rh factor. The Rh factor is a protein that is present on the red blood cells of some people. People who have the Rh factor are Rh-positive, and people who do not have the Rh factor are Rh-negative.

Blood type is inherited from our parents. We inherit one blood group allele from each parent. The possible combinations of alleles are AA, AO, BB, BO, AB, and OO. People with AA or AO blood type have type A blood, people with BB or BO blood type have type B blood, people with AB blood type have type AB blood, and people with OO blood type have type O blood.

The Rh factor is also inherited from our parents. We inherit one Rh allele from each parent. The possible combinations of alleles are Rh+ and Rh-. People with Rh+Rh+ or Rh+Rh- blood type are Rh-positive, and people with Rh-Rh- blood type are Rh-negative.

Blood type is important because it can affect blood transfusions. If a person receives a blood transfusion from a donor who has a different blood type, their immune system may attack the transfused blood cells. This can lead to a serious and potentially life-threatening condition called a transfusion reaction.