How Many Phenotypes Are Possible In ABO Blood Group?

Team Careers360Updated on 15 Mar 2023, 03:17 PM IST

A, B, AB and O are the four main blood groups and the potential phenotpes possible. The ABO blood group system is a classification system for human blood based on the hereditary characteristics of red blood cells, which are determined by the presence or absence of A and B antigens on the surface of red blood cells. ABO blood group antigens are encoded by the ABO locus genetic locus. It comes in three allelic forms: A, B, and O. Each of these three alleles are passed from its parents to a fetus. The presence or absence of the A and B antigens, which reside on the surface of red blood cells, determines the ABO blood group system, which classifies human blood based on the hereditary characteristics of red blood cells (erythrocytes). Karl Landsteiner and Weiner created this system. The ABO blood group is genetically determined and is an example of multiple alleles. Multiple allelic is a phenomenon in which a gene has more than two allelic forms. Like gene I responsible for blood grouping, it has three allelic forms A, B, and O.

This Story also Contains

Blood Types
ABO and Rh Blood Group
Which components are combined to create blood types?
Positive Blood Types
Negative Blood Types
RH Blood Group
RH Factors

How Many Phenotypes Are Possible In ABO Blood Group?

Blood Types

Your blood type is determined by the antigens it contains. There are two main types of blood antigens: ABO and Rh.

ABO and Rh Blood Group

The ABO and Rh types are genetically inherited antigen groups found in the outer membrane of each red blood cell. The ABO group is made up of four options: A, B, AB, and O. Rh type can be either positive or negative.

Which components are combined to create blood types?

O+. O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+ & AB-

Positive Blood Types

Blood Types	You can give to	You can receive from
O +	O+, A+, B+	AB+, O+, O-
A+	A+, AB+, A+	A-, O+, O-
B+	B+, AB+, B+	B-, O+, O-

Negative Blood Types

Blood Types	You can give to	You can receive from
O-	O-	O-
A-	A-, A+, AB-	AB+, A-, O-
B-	B-, B+, AB-	AB+, B-, O-
AB-	AB+, AB-	A-, B-, O

RH Blood Group

Rh factor is an inherited protein found on the surface of red blood cells. If your blood contains the protein, you are Rh-positive. If your blood lacks protein, you are Rh-negative. The "+" or "-" you may see after your blood type refers to Rh-positive or Rh-negative.

Rh positive is much more common than Rh negative. Having an Rh-negative blood type is not a disease and usually does not affect your health. But it can affect pregnancy. Your pregnancy needs special care if you are Rh negative and your baby is Rh positive. It's called Rh incompatibility. A child can inherit the Rh factor from either parent.

RH Factors

Mother’s Rh factor	Father’s Rh factor	Baby’s Rh factor	Precaution
Rh+	Rh+	Rh+	None
Rh-	Rh-	Rh-	None
Rh+	Rh-	Could be Rh+ or Rh-	None
Rh-	Rh+	Could be Rh+ or Rh-	Rh immune globulin injections