Question

Describe the mechanism of pattern of inheritance of ABO blood groups in humans.

Answer 1

Hint: Blood groups in human offspring are innated from their biological parents. In humans ABO blood group systems are observed, where A and B genes are found to be codominant.

Complete answer:
Within the ABO Blood Group system, the A and B genes are codominant, i.e. they are expressed whenever these genes are presented. Apart from these the gene ‘O’ is found to be silent or recessive and only is expressed in those cases where neither A nor B gene appears. The appearance of traits in the blood group system in humans occurs similarly as that of the appearance of the eye color and other genetic characters.

The ABO blood group system follows autosomal co-dominance and is inherited in the similar pattern. Moreover, blood groups in human beings are inherited from the biological parents to their own offspring’s based on the Mendel's law, which states that the blood group inheritance is solely dependent on the types of genes obtained from the biological parents. The genes which regulate the blood group system in humans are found to be three and thus are called Genes multiple alleles.

Blood group types must be precisely coordinated for protected and safer transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) in humans. The more precise details of the ABO blood groups in humans are demonstrated below.

Note: A person having ‘O’ type of blood group can contribute to all other types of blood groups, while a person having ‘A’ type of blood group can only donate to those people having ‘A’ and ‘AB’ type of blood group. Similarly, a person having ‘B’ type of blood group can safely donate to the people having ‘B’ and ‘AB’ type of blood groups.