MAL: NEW BLOOD GROUP SYSTEM

Source: NDTV

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Context

A team of scientists has identified a new blood group system called MAL, ending a decades-long mystery around the AnWj antigen first discovered in 1972.  This introduces the 47th blood group system.

Read about blood: https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/components-of-blood-in-brief#:~:text=A%20drop%20of%20blood%20the,iron%2Dcontaining%20protein%20called%20hemoglobin.

Primary Blood Groups

There are eight blood groups and they are classified using two systems.

• ABO System
• Rhesus system

Antibodies and Antigens

• Antibodies: Proteins found in plasma that recognize foreign substances (such as germs) and help the immune system destroy them.
• Antigens: Protein molecules present on the surface of red blood cells.

ABO System

The ABO system divides blood into four main groups based on the presence or absence of A and B antigens on red blood cells and anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma:

• Blood group A: Has A antigens on red blood cells and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
• Blood group B: Has B antigens on red blood cells and anti-A antibodies in plasma.
• Blood group O: Has no A or B antigens, but both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in plasma.
• Blood group AB: Has both A and B antigens, but no antibodies.
•  Blood group O is the most common. It is a universal donor for red blood cells, meaning it can be safely given to individuals of any other blood group.

Rhesus System

The second system is called the Rhesus System and is classified as Rhesus Positive (+) and Rhesus Negative (-). The two systems combine to define the following eight different blood groups of O-, O+, A-, A+, B-, B+, AB- and AB+.

Blood Group Compatibility

Sources:

NDTV

PRACTICE QUESTION  Q:A married couple adopted a male child. A few years later, twin boys were born to them. The blood group of the couple is AB positive and O negative. The blood group of the three sons is A positive, B positive, and O positive. The blood group of the adopted son is? a) O positive. b) A positive. c) B positive. d) Cannot be determined on the basis of the given data. Answer: a Explanation: The blood group of the parents are AB and O; the child’s blood group may be A or B and since the boy is adopted it is given in the question that “ the blood group of the three sons are A+, B+, O+”.  One of the parent's blood group is AB⁺, his cell will undergo division to form single chromosome cells during reproduction either A⁺ cell or B⁺ cell. Other parent has blood group O⁻ which will remain same during reproduction. The offspring thus produced may have the following configuration : 1) A⁺ and O⁻ results in A⁺ 2) B⁺ and O⁻ results in B⁺