I just went for a blood test and came back knowing I have type AB blood. However my blood can only be used by other people who share the same blood type with me but not others, while other people with type O, A, B they can share the blood with me. Why is that so?
In: Chemistry
Imagine that your body is a big sports stadium full of passionate fans. Let’s say that the home team’s colors are blue and red, and the opposing team’s colors are green and purple.
If a visitor wears a blue shirt, a red shirt, or a blue-and-red striped shirt, they will fit in perfectly with the fans, so they will be welcomed into the home team section of the stadium.
A visitor could also wear a plain white shirt with no colors at all. The fans would not consider this to be a threat, so this visitor would also be welcomed.
Now, let’s say some fans of the opposing team visit. They would be wearing shirts that are green, or purple, or green-and-purple striped. If the home fans see ANY of those colors, they will boo and harass the visitors! They want these enemies out of their section! Eventually the green and purple fans will have to leave because they are getting attacked.
Blood types are determined by antigens. Antigens are little outfits that your blood cells wear. They are team colors for your body. The possible colors are A, B, and + (O means neither A nor B, and “-“ means the absence of “+”). Someone with AB+ blood has the “colors” A, B, and +. Their home team uses all the possible colors. So visiting cells that have any combination of those “colors”, or even visiting cells with no “colors” at all, will be welcome. Some people describe AB+ blood type as the “universal recipient”, because they can accept any blood type since they recognize all the possible colors.
Someone with A+ blood has two colors, A and +. Visitor cells can wear A and/ or +, or they can wear no colors at all, and they will be welcomed.
Someone with O- blood has no team colors. If a visiting cell is wearing ANY of the colors, they will be rejected as an enemy. This patient can only accept cells that also are wearing no colors. Some people describe O- blood as the “universal donor.” These blood cells aren’t wearing any team colors, so they can freely visit any stadium without being attacked.
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