1. Human Blood Groups- Multiple Alleles AND CoDominance
OK… Humans and many other primates

2. IA IB i There are three different alleles for human blood type:
“A” indicates the presence of 1 type of antigen (protein) and “B” represents another antigen on the surface of a red blood cell
“O” has no antigen on the surface of the RBC

3. Blood types of offspring
Allele from Parent 1
Allele from Parent 2
Genotype of offspring
Blood types of offspring A AA O AO B BB BO AB OO

4. Antibodies
Each person also has antibodies floating around with their RBC’s to ensure that no “invaders” survive
Type A blood (has A antigens on cell surface) has B-antibodies
Antibodies are named for what they attack
B-antibodies attack and will clump up (agglutinate) in the pesence of B-antigen
Type B blood (has B antigens on cell surface) has A-antibodies
Type O blood has A and B antibodies
Type AB blood doesn’t have any antobodies

7. A red blood cell (RBC) with three different antigens on the surface of its membrane. The antigens are glycoproteins with unique molecular shapes. They have molecular weights of 200,000 to 300,000.

8.                                                                 
Three different types of blood antibodies that circulate in the plasma. Each antibody has two combining sites where it attaches to the complimentary antigen on the surface of a red blood cell (RBC) membrane. Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies are glycoproteins with a molecular weight of about 900,000. Anti-Rh antibodies are smaller glycoproteins with a molecular weight of about 150,000. The latter are "immune-type" (IgG) antibodies and readily pass through placental capillary membranes.

9.                                                      
A red blood cell (RBC) containing three different antigens on the surface of its membrane. Each antigen has the complimentary antibody attached to it. The antigens and antibodies are large glycoproteins with unique molecular shapes.

10.                                                                                       
Red blood cells (RBCs): Type A Positive (left) and type A Negative (right). Both types have the A antigen, but only the A Positive (left) has the Rh antigen.

11.                                                                                      
Red blood cells (RBCs): Type B Positive (left) and type B Negative (right). Both types have the B antigen, but only the B Positive (left) has the Rh antigen.

12.                                                                                      
Red blood cells (RBCs): Type AB Positive (left) and type AB Negative (right). Both types have A and B antigens, but only the AB Positive (left) has the Rh antigen.

13.                                                                                    
Red blood cells (RBCs): Type O Positive (left) and type O Negative (right). Both types are without A and B antigens, but the O Positive (left) has the Rh antigen. Type O Negative (right) has none of the antigens (A, B or Rh) on its membrane.

14. Agglutination (clumping) of type A red blood cells (RBCs) by anti-A antibodies. The antibodies have two combining sites and are able to attach to the A antigens on adjacent RBCs, thus causing the RBCs to bond together. Blood clotting is an entirely different biochemical mechanism involving blood platelets (thrombocytes) and the clotting protein prothrombin which is converted into thrombin. The thrombin acts like an enzyme, catalyzing the conversion of fibrinogen protein into fibrin. The actual blood clot is composed of fibrin threads that wind around RBCs and platelets.

16. Let's Play the Blood Typing Game!!!

17. Rh Factor
The Rh factor genetic information is also inherited from our parents, but it is inherited independently of the ABO blood type alleles.
There are 2 different alleles for the Rh factor known as Rh+ and Rh-.
Mother
Father
Child
Rh-
Rh+

18. The “Rh Issue”… Mom = Rh- Baby #1 = Rh+