Why Do We Have Different Blood Types?

We all have different blood types because of invisible markers on our red blood cells. These markers come from special instructions passed down from parents to kids, like a recipe for making blood. Some people have one type of marker, others have another, and that’s why we can’t always share blood with each other.

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Examples

If you have type B blood and receive a transfusion from someone with type A, your body might attack their red blood cells like they’re invaders.
A baby born to an Rh-negative mother and an Rh-positive father can develop a serious condition called hemolytic disease of the newborn.
People with type O blood are often called universal donors because their blood lacks both A and B antigens.

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Categories: Biology · blood,genetics,immune system