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Blood Types
Blood Types
Blood Type
A
A+ A-
B
B+ B-
O
O+ O-
AB
AB+ AB-
Rh positive Rh negative
Rh factors are genetically determined. A baby may have the blood type and Rh factor of either parent, or a combination of both parents. Rh factors follow a common pattern of genetic inheritance. The Rh positive gene is dominant (stronger) and even when paired with an Rh negative gene, the positive gene takes over.
If a person has the genes + +, the Rh factor in the blood will be positive. If a person has the genes + -, the Rh factor will also be positive. If a person has the genes - -, the Rh factor will be negative.
A baby receives one gene from the father and one from the mother. More specifically, consider the following:
If a father's Rh factor genes are + +, and the mother's are + +, the baby will have one + from the father and one + gene from the mother. The baby will be + + Rh positive. If a father's Rh factor genes are + +, and the mother's are - -, the baby will have one + from the father and one - gene from the mother. The baby will be + - Rh positive. If the father's genes are - -, and the mother's are - -, the baby will be - - Rh negative. If the father's genes are + - Rh positive, and the mother's are + - Rh positive, the baby can be: o + + Rh positive o + - Rh positive
- - Rh negative
If the father's genes are + -, and the mother's are - -, the baby can be o - - Rh negative o + - Rh positive
Problems with the Rh factor occur when the mother's Rh factor is negative and the baby's is positive. Sometimes, an incompatibility may occur when the mother is blood type O and the baby is either A or B.