Dr. Karl Landsteiner. He divided the blood group into four categories being A, B, AB, O .

His

discovery made him understand that two distinct chemical molecules called antigens and antibodies were present on the surface of the red blood cells. He found that if these categories were not matched properly it could cause clumping or agglutination in the arteries and veins of the recipient and lead to a bad reaction that could sometimes even result in loss of life. To learn more about human blood types scientist have worked with Rhesus monkeys as there are many similarities between the two species. While studying them it was found that these monkeys had a certain protein called the Rh protein. Some people possess this protein and are called Rh +ve. If they do not have the protein they are Rh ve. When describing the Blood type the Rh +ve or -ve is written as O+ve or AB+ve or O-ve or AB-ve. The Rh type is especially important in Pregnancy. Red blood cells or erythrocytes are present in the blood and contain certain proteins on their surface. These proteins are called antigens. The plasma which is the liquid part contains antibodies which will attack certain antigens if they are present. There are various types of red blood cell antigens - the ABO and rhesus types are the most important. By the time a person is six months old, he naturally will have developed antibodies against the antigens his red blood cells lack. Read more: Blood Group | Medindia http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/bloodgroup.htm#ixzz1nUl5PxlL A blood group individuals will have type A antigens on the surface of red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in plasma. There are about 20 different subgroups of which A1 and A2 subtypes are the most common. B blood group individuals will have type B antigens on the surface of red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in your plasma. AB blood group are those who will have type A and type B antigens on the surface of red blood cells and no antibodies to A or B antigens in plasma. O blood group are those who will have neither type A or type B antigens on the surface of red blood cells but will have anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma. Read more: Blood Group | Medindia http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/bloodgroup.htm#ixzz1nUl9UCCw