Why do we have different BLOOD GROUPS?

So that mosquitos can enjoy different flavors. Sorry, just kidding...

Well my friends, when you hear the word BLOOD, what are the things that pop up in your mind?

Maybe the color Red?

A hospital?

Or a vampire chasing its prey.

Well, no matter what you think of Blood, it is something that your body needs to survive. So in this blog, let us explore the different types of blood and know WHY do Blood Types matter?

Blood! Despite its similar appearance but not everybody has the same kind of blood. Yes, as we know there are eight different types of blood humans possess and it is determined by a type of complex protein situated at the outer layer of the cell membrane called ANTIGENS. These antigens join forces with the white blood cells to protect you from viruses and bacteria and stop them from causing any infection.

Not only that, but these antigens also serve as identity tags so that your immune system does not think of them as foreign substances and attack them.

How Do Antigens Cause Differences In Our Blood Types?

So, there are two main kinds of antigens that blood can have, that is:

A and B,

and your blood group depends on the absence, presence, and combination of these two main kinds of antigens in your blood cells.

For example, if your cells have both A and B antigens, your blood type will be AB. And if you have only Type A antigens, you will have Type A group, whereas if you have Type B blood, it means you have only B antigens. And in case you don't have any antigens present in your cells, then you are a Type O person.

I know what you are thinking, then what about these positive(+) and negative(-) signs besides our blood groups.

Well, it depends on an additional antigen system called the Rh Factor.

Yes, if we have Rh antigens present in our cells, then we are Rh-positive, and if it is absent, then our blood type is determined as Rh-negative.

Why Do Blood Types Matter?

Well, for blood transfusions matching the receiver's blood type is a matter of life and death. If someone with the Type A blood group is given Type B blood or vice-versa, their immune system will think of it as a threat and start attacking it, causing the transfused blood to clot. 

But things are a little different for people with type AB or type O blood. If you have both A and B antigens on the surface of your cells, then someone with AB blood can get a transfusion from someone with A, B, AB, or O blood.

But if you have Type O blood, your red blood cells have neither A nor B antigens. So a person with O blood can ONLY get a transfusion with O blood.

Thanks For Reading!

Author: Muniza Shah