![a negative blood type antigens and antibodies a negative blood type antigens and antibodies](https://www.creative-diagnostics.com/images/The-ABO-system.png)
The best way to keep things straight is to remember that you can’t receive any blood that has a foreign antigen on it. Blood Type Mismatching ProblemsĮveryone knows that blood type is important in giving and receiving blood, but keeping track of who can give and get what can be confusing. Most people who have a negative blood type have a deletion of this entire gene on both copies of their 1st chromosome, so this antigen never even gets close to being made. The gene that makes the D antigen is called RHD, which is located on chromosome 1. It’s determined by whether or not you have the Rhesus (Rh) group D antigen on your red blood cells (there are over 30 Rh antigens, but D is the important one here). The “positive” and “negative” at the end of your blood type is a completely separate entity from ABO. Get both an A version and a B version, you’ll have both types of antigens and your blood type will be AB. If Mom gives you an O version, and Dad gives you an A version, your blood type will be A, since you’ll only have A antigens. The ABO gene is on chromosome 9, and we all have two copies of it one from Mom and one from Dad. The O version of the gene is actually missing a letter, so the protein it makes is a dud and can’t do anything to the H antigen. The A version of the ABO gene converts the H antigen into the A antigen, while the B version converts it into the B antigen. Instead the protein it makes takes a different antigen (H antigen) and changes it. Which antigens end up on your red blood cells is determined by which version of the ABO gene you have, but the ABO gene doesn’t actually make an antigen at all. “A” and “B” are antigens that can be on the surface of a red blood cell, while “O” just means there are no A’s or B’s. We focus on these two groups because they’re the ones that are most likely to cause trouble if they end up in the wrong person’s blood. The first group gives us the letter or letters of your blood type, and the “Rh status” gives the positive or negative part (A+, O-, AB-, etc.). Though there are many groups of antigens, the main two groups we talk about when it comes to blood type are ABO and Rh. Your blood type is just a description of which antigens you have. Your red blood cells have lots different antigens on their surface.
![a negative blood type antigens and antibodies a negative blood type antigens and antibodies](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amir-Jafargholi/publication/340217982/figure/fig7/AS:876613122134018@1586012263814/Common-clinical-procedure-a-forward-b-reverse-blood-typig-versus-PL-spectroscopy-of.jpg)
It’s kind of like having a passport have the wrong kind and you’ll be kicked out. The antibodies recognize flags on the intruders called “antigens.” Your own cells have these flags too, but your immune system knows they belong to you, so it ignores them.
![a negative blood type antigens and antibodies a negative blood type antigens and antibodies](http://www.fiods-ifbdo.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/basics.jpg)
Antibodies are little proteins your white blood cells make that stick to foreign intruders and make them easy targets to destroy. The immune system has many parts, but one key feature here is the antibody. To understand why blood types are important, you have to know a little bit about the immune system. Here’s the basics about blood types, and why they’re so important. It can also have big implications in pregnancy. Knowing your blood type can be super important if you’re ever in need of the stuff.