| From: sam | 24/05/99
13:44:41 |
| Subject: blood | post id:
13536 |
| What do the designations for
blood types stand for; A,B,O etc? And where do they come from? | |
| From: Di | 24/05/99
13:51:09 |
| Subject: re: blood | post id:
13539 |
| One of the great breakthroughs in
the history of medicine was Karl Landsteiner's discovery of blood groups
in 1901. Prior to this discovery,blood transfusions were hazardous at
best, and oftentimes lethal. Landsteiner discovered two basic markers
(antigens) that are often present on the surface of red blood cells. He
named these two antigens A and B. All people are either type A, type B,
type AB, or type O; depending on whether they have one, both, or neither
of these markers on their red cells. Landsteiner also discovered that plasma usually contains antibodies that can react with the A and B antigens on the red blood cells. Before giving a blood transfusion, it is necessary to determine that the recipient's plasma does not have any antibodies that will react with the donor's red blood cells. | |
| From: swat and Amanda | 26/05/99
12:44:52 |
| Subject: re: blood | post id:
13835 |
| they refer to the different
proteins extending from the blood cells membrane. As for the actual
letters I think that they were actually made up. These proteins are used
by the body as a sort of self recognition device. This is why you can't
use just any blood in transfusions. O type blood has no proteins on the
surface of the cell, and A and B have differing shapes, antibodies can
recognise the cells as one of their own due to their shape.
| |