Blood Types & DiseaseClass Notes 7

1. What are the 4 main blood types? What accounts for their differences?

A. Blood Types: A, B, AB and O

B. Blood Type refers to proteins found on the RBCs

C. Blood Type is determined by 2 genes:

1. ABO gene (2 alleles which are codominant)

2. Rh gene (2 alleles)

Rh+ is dominant

Rh- is recessive

2. What is the distribution of blood types in the U.S.?

O+ - 38%

O- - 7%

A+ - 34%

A- - 6%

B+ - 9%

B- - 2%

AB+ - 3%

AB- - 1%

3. What is an antigen?

Antigen: any substance that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against it.

ex. food, pollen, dust, fur, clothing, the wrong blood!

If you have a blood transfusion with the wrong type of blood, your blood will clump

4. What are the rules for blood donation?

If you need a blood transfusion, the best is to receive blood that matches your blood type.

People with Type O blood are universal donors because it contains no antigens on the RBCs to cause an immune response

HOWEVER, people with Type O blood can only receive Type O blood (or they will DIE!)

People with Type AB blood are universal recipients because they can receive any type of blood

Fun and Games!

5. What is anemia?Too few RBCs or too little hemoglobin

Usually caused by an iron deficiency; may be genetic as well

Classic symptom: fatigue

6. What is hemochromatosis?Genetic disease where too much iron builds up in the body and become toxic

Causes liver and heart damage; skin may become darker

Treatment: periodic blood removal

7. What is jaundice?

Newborns’ immature livers usually don’t function fully and cannot handle the proper removal of dead RBC parts

It usually goes away when the newborn starts having proper bowel movements (poops)

8. What is hemophilia?

Genetic disorder in which the body does not produce one of the clotting factors needed to stop bleeding

Sex-linked; on the X chromosome, so usually found in males and females are carriers

Can bleed to death from a simple cut