Chapter 34, Problem 11A

Summary Introduction

To write:

If a person has the blood type B, what type of blood he or she can receive in transfusion.

Introduction:

The circulatory system includes of the heart, blood vessels and blood. The blood transports oxygen and nutrients or mineral to each cell with inside the body and picks up waste products (like carbon dioxide) for removal from the body. The bulk of our blood is composed of plasma. Floating inside the plasma are the red blood cells that transport oxygen, the white cells that develop part of the immune system, and clotting cells called platelets. The two important ways to categorize blood groups are the ABO system and the Rh system. The four main blood groups in the ABO system are A, B, AB and O. A person’s blood group is decided via a pair of genes, one gene inherited from every parent.

Explanation of Solution

The blood group will rely on which antigens are on the surface of the red blood cells. Antigens molecules are either proteins or sugars. The kinds and functions of antigens can differ among individuals, because of small genetic differences. The ABO blood group system categorizes blood types based on the different types of antigens present in the red blood cells and antibodies in the plasma. In blood group B, the surface of the red blood cells consist of B antigen, and the plasma contains anti-A antibody. Anti-A antibody would target blood cells that consist of A antigen. If a person has the blood type B, he or she can receive only blood type B or type O in transfusion.

Conclusion

Thus, we can say that B type red blood cells can be given to both B and AB patients. B blood group patients can only receive blood from other B type donors or from type O donors (who are also known as the universal donors).