how is blood group in an offspring determined ??
The blood group of an offspring is determined with the type of alleles he/she gets from his/her parents. Each individual carries two alleles for the blood group gene and Rh factor. Thus, two types of factors determine the blood group of an offspring:
1) A, B and O alleles
2) Rh factor.
The following table gives the types of alleles that can be present in an individual and the respective blood group the individual will have..
Alleles present in an individual | Blood group |
AB | AB |
AO | A |
BO | B |
OO | O |
AA | A |
BB | B |
For example, if an offspring has acquired A and O alleles from his/her parents, the blood group of an offspring becomes A as A is dominant over O
Another factor is Rh factor. Here Rh+ positive is dominant over Rh-
Rh+ Rh- | Rh+ |
Rh- Rh- | Rh- |
Rh+ Rh+ | Rh+ |