Goodday guys, this time around, we shall be discussing genetics and our focus would be reading blood groups. (This has been posted on our WhatsApp group as a presentation before now. Please ensure to leave your comments in the comments and join the WhatsApp group; here's the link:https://chat.whatsapp.com/JnowhI7aTAoHfFkD9cNZRL )
Genetics is the branch of biology that deals with the transmission and variation of inherited characteristics of particular chromosomes and DNA.
So, how do we get to read blood groups? We shall be discussing that.
The blood is claasified into four distinct groups: A, B, AB and O which is in relation to the antigens and antibodies found in the blood. Now, what do we understand by Antigens and Antibodies? Antibodies are found in the plasma while Antigens are found on the surface of the red blood cells. Antigens can either be A or B while antibodies can either be anti-a or anti-b. Let us take note that if Antigen A is present in a blood sample, then anti-a antibody can't be present in it. The blood could contain Antigens and Antibodies in four ways which are listed below:
Antigen A & Anti-b antibody
Antigen B & Anti-a antibody
Antigen A and Antigen B & no antibodies
No Antigens and Anti-a & Anti-b antibody.
(For easier understanding, see the attached table I)
For instance, in a blood sample X, the antigen on the red blood cell is A and the antibody in the plasma would be anti-b, then the blood is said to belong to blood group A.(This means that the blood group name is taken from the antigen's name).
If the antigen(on red blood cell) is B, and the antibody (in plasma) is anti-a, then the blood is said to belong to blood group B.
If the blood contains both antigen A and B on red blood then it won't contain any antibody in plasma, which means its blood group is AB.
However, if the blood doesn't contain any antigen, it will contain both anti-a and anti-b antibodies in its plasma. This means that the blood group is O.
(For easy understanding, also refer to the attached table I)
With this, we can determine our individual blood groups, but there's still a problem; how do we find out which antigens or/ antibodies are contained in our blood? Here's how: we simply collect our individual blood samples and test it against two serums; one containing anti-a antibody and the other containing anti-b antibody. Let's assume that we're testing for a blood sample X. We simply place a drop of blood sample X in each of this individual serums and observe what happens. The antibodies present in the serum will react with the Antigens that are present in blood sample X. On exposure to anti-a antibody, blood sample X will clump if it contains Antigen A, and on exposure to anti-b antibody, blood same X will clump if it contains Antigen B.
(For more details, see the attached Table II).
TEST FOR A BLOOD SAMPLE Y
OBSERVATION: It was observed that the blood sample clotted in anti-a serum but didn't clot in anti-b serum, that means it contains only one antigen which is Antigen A (since we know that a blood sample that contains Antigen A will clot on meeting anti-a serum). Therefore, since it has only one antigen(which is Antigen A), it will also contain only one antibody(which is Anti-b antibody).
CONCLUSION: The blood sample Y belongs to blood group A.
Below are other possibilities there can be;
If the blood contained Antigen B and Anti-a antibody, then the blood belongs to blood group B.
If the blood contained both Antigen A and Antigen B and no antibodies, then the blood belongs to group AB.
If the blood contained no Antigens and contained both Anti-a and Anti-b antibodies, then the blood belongs to group O.
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We've come to the end of the discussion, please drop your comments and questions in the comments box. We'll be discussing about Rhesus factor and the further distinction of blood groups next. Do have a most wondrous day. Compliments of the season. Ramadan Kareem.
Genetics is the branch of biology that deals with the transmission and variation of inherited characteristics of particular chromosomes and DNA.
So, how do we get to read blood groups? We shall be discussing that.
The blood is claasified into four distinct groups: A, B, AB and O which is in relation to the antigens and antibodies found in the blood. Now, what do we understand by Antigens and Antibodies? Antibodies are found in the plasma while Antigens are found on the surface of the red blood cells. Antigens can either be A or B while antibodies can either be anti-a or anti-b. Let us take note that if Antigen A is present in a blood sample, then anti-a antibody can't be present in it. The blood could contain Antigens and Antibodies in four ways which are listed below:
Antigen A & Anti-b antibody
Antigen B & Anti-a antibody
Antigen A and Antigen B & no antibodies
No Antigens and Anti-a & Anti-b antibody.
(For easier understanding, see the attached table I)
For instance, in a blood sample X, the antigen on the red blood cell is A and the antibody in the plasma would be anti-b, then the blood is said to belong to blood group A.(This means that the blood group name is taken from the antigen's name).
If the antigen(on red blood cell) is B, and the antibody (in plasma) is anti-a, then the blood is said to belong to blood group B.
If the blood contains both antigen A and B on red blood then it won't contain any antibody in plasma, which means its blood group is AB.
However, if the blood doesn't contain any antigen, it will contain both anti-a and anti-b antibodies in its plasma. This means that the blood group is O.
(For easy understanding, also refer to the attached table I)
With this, we can determine our individual blood groups, but there's still a problem; how do we find out which antigens or/ antibodies are contained in our blood? Here's how: we simply collect our individual blood samples and test it against two serums; one containing anti-a antibody and the other containing anti-b antibody. Let's assume that we're testing for a blood sample X. We simply place a drop of blood sample X in each of this individual serums and observe what happens. The antibodies present in the serum will react with the Antigens that are present in blood sample X. On exposure to anti-a antibody, blood sample X will clump if it contains Antigen A, and on exposure to anti-b antibody, blood same X will clump if it contains Antigen B.
(For more details, see the attached Table II).
TEST FOR A BLOOD SAMPLE Y
OBSERVATION: It was observed that the blood sample clotted in anti-a serum but didn't clot in anti-b serum, that means it contains only one antigen which is Antigen A (since we know that a blood sample that contains Antigen A will clot on meeting anti-a serum). Therefore, since it has only one antigen(which is Antigen A), it will also contain only one antibody(which is Anti-b antibody).
CONCLUSION: The blood sample Y belongs to blood group A.
Below are other possibilities there can be;
If the blood contained Antigen B and Anti-a antibody, then the blood belongs to blood group B.
If the blood contained both Antigen A and Antigen B and no antibodies, then the blood belongs to group AB.
If the blood contained no Antigens and contained both Anti-a and Anti-b antibodies, then the blood belongs to group O.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We've come to the end of the discussion, please drop your comments and questions in the comments box. We'll be discussing about Rhesus factor and the further distinction of blood groups next. Do have a most wondrous day. Compliments of the season. Ramadan Kareem.
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