Question

What is the difference between type 0+ and type O- blood cells? Are both universal donors? Why?

Answer 1

Hint: There are four types of blood group-A, B, AB, O. The blood group O is known as the universal donor as all the other groups can receive blood from the blood group O. the (+) or (-) group of the blood is due to the presence of Rh factor in the blood. The Rh is the protein in the blood. The presence or absence of it makes it positive or negative.

Complete answer:
There are four blood groups viz- A, B, AB and O. Along with the blood group, another factor called the Rh factor is present in the blood. The presence or absence of the Rh antigen makes a blood group positive or negative. The + or – are known as the sub-groups or sub-types.

The blood group O is called the donor blood group as it can donate blood to other groups. There are two types of blood group O. O+ and O-. the major difference between them are-

O+	O-
This blood group contains Rh factor or antigen on the surface of RBC.	This blood group do not contain Rh factor or antigen on the surface of RBC.
Rh antibodies are not found on the plasma	Rh antibodies are found on the plasma.
This blood group can be transfused to A+, B+, AB+, O+	This can be transfused to both positive and negative blood groups.
Can receive blood from both O+ and O-	Can receive blood from only O-
O+ is called the donor blood group.	O- is the universal donor group.

O- is called the universal donor group because it does not have antigens A, B, D. So it will be unable to cause any immunological reactions to the recipient having any blood group. O+ cannot be given to the recipients having negative antigen as it can cause immunological reactions.

Note: The larger population has the positive group. So, O+ can be transfused to them. The Rhesus protein is inherited and is passed on from the parent to the offspring. The Rh factor is an important tool to determine the compatibility of the blood during transfusion.