How is blood type differentiated? I knew there were different genotypes for A, B, AB and O, but until this week, I had no idea what those genes actually encoded. My immunology class is fascinating and so practical. I absolutely love it.
UT Genetic Science Learning Center website
The different blood-deciding genes code for antigens which lead the body to either recognize the gut bacteria as self-antigen and ignore them or fight against them by producing antibodies. Therefore, bloodtype A produces A antigen, which leads to production of anti-B antibodies. Similarly, bloodtype B produces B-antigen, and O (having neither A nor B antigen) have both anti-A and anti-B antigens. In addition to the ABO blood typing system, there are others as well, such as Lewis, Duffy, Kidd, and Rhesus.
The different blood types are biologically significant. But are the effects of having/lacking certain antibodies equally noticeable? Different blood types have different susceptibility to diseases, even when the causality is unclear. For example, O's are most susceptible to cholera, while AB's are the most resistant. A's are most susceptible to gastric cancers, and O's peptic ulcers. O's also have least severe reaction to malaria.
Dr. D'Adamo presents a blood type specific diet, focusing on susceptibility of each blood types to diseases, and even associating a personality with different blood types (O's are responsible and decisive!). Hmmmm.
Is this a further push towards nature in the ongoing nature versus nurture debate?
When you go to the doctor's, the question: "is there a history of [disease/condition] in the family?" should be answered with attention and detail.
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