Is type O the only blood that can't be mixed
2007-11-07 14:05:39 · 4 answers · asked by Smile 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Which blood types can and can't mix?
2007-11-07 14:16:54 · update #1
Rh is short for Rhesus monkey, the species in which the Rh factor was identified.
Your blood cells contain surface proteins (called antigens) that make it identifiable to your immune system. Rh positive means it has this antigen. Rh minus means it does not. Therefore, Rh minus blood can be given to anyone. It cannot be identified as foreign because it has no antigen. But if Rh+ blood is given to an Rh- patient, the patient's immune system would attack the Rh+ blood because it does not recognize the antigen.
This also comes into play during pregnancies. If a mother is Rh- and has an Rh+ baby (inherited from the father), she will generate antibodies against the Rh+ blood of the baby. The first born will be ok. But if a second pregnancy results in an Rh+ child, the antibodies generated against the first will target the blood as foreign and the baby will be terminated. In modern medicine, there are immune suppressors for mothers to protect the baby.
O blood is a different antigen. In addition to Rh factors, there are blood antigens A and B. Combination of these antigens yield type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood. Type O blood is the absence of antigen, similar to Rh-. Therefore type O blood is the universal donor. It can be given to any patient because it has no antigens. It cannot be recognized as foreign.
When you say "mixed" I assume you mean a blood donor.
Type A can't receive type B and vice versa.
Type AB can receive any type.
type O can't receive any type.
AB is the universal recipient
O is the universal donor
2007-11-07 14:15:42 · answer #1 · answered by matt5700 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There's a protein in the blood called the Rh factor. If a person has this protein, the person is Rh+. If the person doesn't have it, the person is Rh-.
I don't understand your second question. Sorry.
Type O blood is the universal donor - Type O blood can be given to anybody.
However, Type O blood can only receive Type O ... no other blood types will work in a person with Type O.
2007-11-07 14:09:34 · answer #2 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rh i believe are peripheral proteins on the membranes of RBC's that are used for recognition so positive means they are present and negative means they're not there. O can be given to any other blood but it can only recieve O blood.
2007-11-07 14:11:45 · answer #3 · answered by tuerving 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You raise some good points in your question.
2016-08-26 05:57:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋