Blood-Type

Genetics
 Blood Cell Antigens
Blood types are the result of the
presence (or absence) of antigens
(molecules) on the surface of the
individual’s red blood cells. These fall
into two groups:
 A, B, O blood type
 Rh factor
 Codominance
The gene for antigen A and the gene
for antigen B are CODOMINANT.

Both traits are expressed completely

when the gene for A is inherited from
one parent and the gene for B is
inherited from the other parent.
Bloodtype antigens and antibodies
 A, B, O Inheritance
Allele from Allele from Child’s Child’s
Parent 1 Parent 2 genotype phenotype
A A AA A
A O AO A
A B AB AB
B A AB AB
B B BB B
B O BO B
O O OO O
 Blood Type Problem
Three children recently born in a hospital were
accidently mixed up. The blood types of the parents
involved are given along with the blood types of the
infants. Determine which baby belongs with which
parents, and explain your reasoning for the decisions
you made.
Mother and Father_____ _____Babies_______
Parents #1 Type A & Type B Child x Type A
Parents #2 Type O & Type AB Child y Type O
Parents #3 Type B & Type O Child z Type AB
 Rh Inheritance
Rh inheritance is independent of A, B, O
blood type.
Rh factor Possible genotypes
Rh+ Rh+/Rh+ OR Rh+/Rh-
Rh- Rh-/Rh-
Parent 1 Parent 2 Child’s
Rh allele Rh allele phenotype
Rh+ Rh+ Rh+
Rh- Rh+ Rh+
Rh- Rh- Rh-
 ABO and Rh blood type distribution by nation (population averages)
Country   O+   A+   B+   AB+    O−    A−    B−   AB−  
Australia 40% 31% 8% 2% 9% 7% 2% 1%
Austria 30% 33% 12% 6% 7% 8% 3% 1%
Belgium 38.1% 34% 8.5% 4.1% 7% 6% 1.5% 0.8%
Canada 39% 36% 7.6% 2.5% 7% 6% 1.4% 0.5%
Denmark 35% 37% 8% 4% 6% 7% 2% 1%
Finland 27% 38% 15% 7% 4% 6% 2% 1%
France 36% 37% 9% 3% 6% 7% 1% 1%
Germany 35% 37% 9% 4% 6% 6% 2% 1%
Hong Kong,
40% 26% 27% 7% <0.3% <0.3% <0.3% <0.3%
China
Ireland 47% 26% 9% 2% 8% 5% 2% 1%
South Korea 35.2% 28.1% 26.1% 11.3% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.05%
Netherlands 39.5% 35% 6.7% 2.5% 7.5% 7% 1.3% 0.5%
New Zealand 38% 32% 9% 3% 9% 6% 2% 1%
Norway 34% 42.5% 6.8% 3.4% 6% 7.5% 1.2% 0.6%
Poland 31% 32% 15% 7% 6% 6% 2% 1%
Sweden 32% 37% 10% 5% 6% 7% 2% 1%
Turkey 29.8% 37.8% 14.2% 7.2% 3.9% 4.7% 1.6% 0.8%
UK 37% 35% 8% 3% 7% 7% 2% 1%
USA 37.4% 35.7% 8.5% 3.4% 6.6% 6.3% 1.5% 0.6%
 Blood Type Problem
A man whose alleles for blood type are A/O
and Rh+/Rh- marries a woman whose alleles
are B/O and Rh+/Rh-.

a) What are the phenotypes of the

parents with respect to blood type?
b) What are the possible genotypes for
their offspring with respect to blood
type?
c) What are the possible phenotypes
for their offspring with respect to
blood type?
 What are the phenotypes of the
parents with respect to blood type?
Father:
 AO is expressed as type A
 Rh+/Rh- is expressed as Rh+
 Father’s phenotype is A+

Mother:
 BO is expressed as type B
 Rh+/Rh- is expressed as Rh+
 Mother’s phenotype is B+
What are the
possible genotypes
for their offspring Paternal gametes
with respect to
blood type? A/Rh+ A/Rh- O/Rh+ O/Rh-

AB AB BO BO
B/Rh+
Rh+Rh+ Rh+Rh- Rh+Rh+ Rh+Rh-

AB AB BO BO
B/Rh-
Rh+Rh- Rh-Rh- Rh+Rh- Rh-Rh-
Maternal
gametes AO AO OO OO
O/Rh+
Rh+Rh+ Rh+Rh- Rh+Rh+ Rh+Rh-

AO AO OO OO
O/Rh- Rh+Rh- Rh-Rh- Rh+Rh- Rh-Rh-
What are the possible phenotypes for their
offspring with respect to blood type?

AB+ = 3/16
AB- = 1/16
AB AB BO BO
Rh+Rh+ Rh+Rh- Rh+Rh+ Rh+Rh-

AB AB BO BO A+ = 3/16
Rh+Rh- Rh-Rh- Rh+Rh- Rh-Rh-
A- = 1/16
AO AO OO OO
Rh+Rh+ Rh+Rh- Rh+Rh+ Rh+Rh- B+ = 3/16
AO AO OO OO
Rh+Rh- Rh-Rh- Rh+Rh- Rh-Rh-
B- = 1/16
O+ = 3/16
O- = 1/16