Written by Samayraa Thadani '26
Introduction - What are Different Blood Groups?
We all have a different blood type that is determined genetically from the blood types of our parents. Everyone's blood type is determined by the combination of two alleles, one from each parent. Karl Landsteiner helped to discover 4 major blood groups, A, AB, B, or O.
How were blood groups discovered?
Landsteiner, born in Vienna, Austria was the first person who was able to classify the different blood groups by taking the red cells of his staff and mixing it with a serum. He classified the cells and discovered that some groups are compatible to mix and others are deadly.
How did Landsteiner Improve Blood Transfusions?
Landsteiner used the work of Leonard Landois, who realized that when blood cells from one animal species are mixed with the blood cells of another animal the red cells usually clump together and burst. Landsteiner was able to relate these findings to human blood cells, which allowed him to realize why a number of people were dying during the transfusions. The reason behind the rejection of donated red blood cells was because of an immune response. In an experiment, he tested what would happen if he had a person with blood type A receive blood from a person with type B. He discovered that the host's cells could not detect the B antigens as the donor and to defend its body against the threat it produces antibodies. Landsteiner's discoveries are the reason why doctors test to figure out your blood type before having a transfusion.
What is the Rh Blood Group System?
The Rh System was discovered by Karl Landsteiner and A.S Weiner. The Rh factor is one of the factors used to figure out if two different blood types can be mixed, indicating if a person's red blood cells have an Rh protein. If a person has Rh+ blood then they can mix with someone with Rh- or Rh+ blood. Although, if a person has Rh- blood then they can only receive Rh-. These discoveries have been used to save the lives of many babies during pregnancy. When a mother with Rh- blood expects a baby with Rh+ then her blood might produce anti-D antibodies which can be detrimental to the baby.
Accomplishments
Landsteiner won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for finding a way to identify different blood groups and arguably saving billions of lives. He later died of a heart attack in his laboratory in New York, 1943.
What Blood Types are Compatible?
Although blood is donated by many people it is still needed every day of the year. When you donate your blood it will be given to someone during a transfusion to help replace blood during surgery or injury. Types O- and O+ are in high demand because only 7% of the population is O- while O+ blood makes up 37% of the population. A person with O- blood can donate blood to any person making them universal donors. On the other hand a person with AB blood can receive blood from anyone making them universal receivers. The blood chart above shows which blood types you can receive or donate blood to depending upon your blood type.
Works Cited
Blood types. Explained - A, B, AB and O | Red Cross Blood Services. (n.d.). https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types.html#:~:text=Blood%20types%20are%20determined%20by,blood%20typing%20and%20cross%2Dmatching.
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Karl Landsteiner. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Karl-Landsteiner
12, A. B. J., & Brunning, A. (2018, January 12). National Blood Donor Month: Blood type compatibilities. Compound Interest. https://www.compoundchem.com/2018/01/12/blood-types/
Farhud, D. D., & Zarif Yeganeh, M. (2013). A brief history of human blood groups. Iranian journal of public health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3595629/
Genes and blood type. (n.d.). https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/blood#:~:text=Blood%20Type%20Is%20Determined%20Genetically&text=A%20third%20version%20of%20this,alleles%20determines%20your%20blood%20type
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