Blood Types & Donation

Biology 11Ms. Lowrie

Donation History

• 1667: – 1st blood transfusion (calf to human)– Treatment: ‘madness’– Died 6 months later

– What killed him?

Donation History

• 1670:– Law passed banning blood transfusions

Trouble:– Blood = life-giving fluid– Would other traits

be passed?

Donation History

• 1818:– 1st successful blood transfusion– Women lost blood during birth

• Gave husband’s blood

• 1825 – 1830:– 10 more transfusions– 50% success

Donation History

• By 1919:– Karl Landsteiner discovered blood

groups• Won 1930 Nobel Prize

– Blood would clot if stored

• 1937:– First blood bank

Blood Types

• Antigens:

– A type of glycoprotein

– Act as identifying markers

• Found on RBC

cell membrane

Blood Types

• Antibodies:

– Found in plasma

– Protect against foreign RBC antigens

Blood Types

• Incompatible blood types:

– Antibodies attack antigens

– Causes agglutination or coagulation

(clotting)

– RBCs cannot carry

oxygen

Blood Types

Hint:

• Antibodies are always opposite to

antigens

– Otherwise we would attack our own

blood!

Blood Types

Antigens Antibody

Location

- On red blood cell - In plasma

Function

- Cell identification

- Looks for foreign antigens

- Fights (if necessary)

Examples

Antigen A Antibody A

Antigen B Antibody B

Blood Types

Blood Type

A B AB O

Diagram

Antigen(s) on RBC

Antibody(s) in

plasma

ABO Blood Types

Blood Type

A B AB O

Diagram

Antigen(s) on RBC

A B A & B None

Antibody(s) in

plasmaAnti B Anti A None

Anti A &

Anti B

Rh Factor

• Named after Rhesus monkeys

• Rh antigens present = Rh+

• Rh antigens absent = Rh-

Rh Antibodies

• Natural antibodies DO NOT exist for

Rh factor

• Are created in a Rh- person if they are exposed to Rh+ blood

• Exposed how?

+/- Blood Types

Antigens Antibody

Positive

(Rh+)Rh none

Negative

(Rh-)None

Anti-Rh(if previously

exposed)

Rh and Pregnancy

• Erythroblastosis Fetalis

• Serious condition • Mother and baby blood is

incompatible– Mother is Rh- – Baby is Rh+

First Rh+ Baby

• Mother and baby are fine– BUT during delivery blood mixes

• Mother is exposed to Rh+ blood– Will start to develop

Rh antibodies

Second Rh+ Baby

• Problems arise!!

• Mother now has Rh antibodies – Antibodies attack baby's Rh antigens– Causes agglutination

What Happens???

• Baby receives less oxygen and is born blue– “Blue babies”

• Good news:– Can be prevented/treated

with medication

Questions???