Blood type of a child

The blood circulates throughout the body, carrying useful elements and oxygen to all cells. There are no substitutes for blood, so many people donate blood to help those who need it.

Each drop of blood contains red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), platelets, and plasma. In addition, there are antigens and antibodies in the blood. Antigens are attached to the surface of red blood cells, and antibodies are in the plasma.

Antigens and antibodies play an important role in the immune system. Antibodies are produced by leukocytes and are contained in blood plasma. If antibodies recognize the donor blood cells as foreign, they will attack them.

Even though blood consists of the same elements, there are at least 33 systems by which blood is divided into different types. Your blood type depends on the genes that you inherited from your parents.

The most common systems are the ABO system and the Rh system.

ABO blood system

The blood type depends on which antigens are on the surface of the red blood cells. There are 2 types of such antigens: A and B. Depending on the combination of these antigens or their absence, there are 4 blood groups:

Blood group O – red blood cells have neither antigen attached to the surface. The plasma contains anti-A antibodies and anti-B antibodies.

Blood group A – the surface of red blood cells contains antigen A. The plasma has anti-B antibodies.

Blood group B – the surface of red blood cells contains antigen B. The plasma has anti-A antibodies.

Blood group AB – red blood cells have antigens A and B. There are no antibodies in the plasma.

Antibodies and antigens. Which blood types are compatible for transfusion?

It is very important to select the correct blood type for transfusion. If the plasma contains antibodies to donated blood, the donor cells will be destroyed, which leads to the formation of blood clots and blockage of blood vessels.

For example, if someone with type A blood is given type B blood, then anti-B antibodies from type A blood will attack type B cells. That is why a person with type A blood should never be given a type B blood, and vice versa.

People with type O blood group are considered universal donors, since their blood does not have antigens A and B.

Blood group AB is considered a universal recipient, that is, it can accept any donor blood, since plasma does not contain antibodies that can recognize antigens A and B.

Genetics. Can a child's blood be different from parents'?

Blood type is inherited. The child inherits 23 pairs of chromosomes – 23 from the father, and 23 from the mother. Chromosomes contain genes. Each gene is presented in two versions (alleles). One version of the gene is from the mother, and the second is from the father.

Your blood type depends on which version of the gene you received from your parents.

For example, a mother has two versions of the gene – A and O, and a father has B and O. They can transmit either of their two versions to their child. That is, the child may have the following combinations: AB, AO, OV, OO.

Below is a blood group table for each allele combination: