Genome: Chapter 9

Assignment: 
Blog on 6th Genome

In Genome chapter 9, Matt Ridley talks about chromosome 9 upon which lies the gene that determines Human ABO blood group.  It's very interesting that knowing your blood type is very helpful in many scenarios.  For example "if police get lucky, they match the blood of the criminal to blood found at the scene of the crime.  The four types of universal blood groups are A, B, AB, and O.  I agree with the author that the relationship between the groups is not simple.  It depressing to know that people with type AB have the lowest percentage of people on earth with their blood type.  Therefore its much more of a hassle to find people with the same blood type as them when they are in need of it.  I learned that the difference between the "A gene and B gene is only seven letters."  " These differences are sufficient to cause an immune reaction to the wrong blood."  If someone is mistakenly given a mismatched blood transfusion, they will undergo a severe reaction and will only make their immune responses worse.  The universal donor is type O blood.  Type O patients are much more prone to infection with cholera.  Each blood group falls victim to different strains.  For example, many diseases are caused by your blood type, not by environmental conditions like many people believe.  This chapter helped me understand more about the Universal blood groups and how its important to find out your blood type.