Bleedin' Brilliant
By Hayley Birch
Scientists have announced that they can convert blood from any common blood group into type O. Ingenious. But what’s the use?
Well, if you were rushed into hospital today with an arm hanging off, how easy do you think it would be to get a blood transfusion?
It depends on your blood type. If you’re group O - the most common – you could only hope there would be some in stock, since group O blood is not compatible with anything but more group O. (Just to reassure you, when we last checked out the UK blood bank, there was around ten days’ worth).
If you’re A, B or AB, on the other hand, you can take a transfusion of your own type, or of type O.
So that means if there was a lot more O about, we could all feel a little calmer when being wheeled into casualty ahead of a river of our own blood.
But how can you change one blood type into another?
It’s all down to scientists at the University of Copenhagen, who have discovered some nifty little enzymes produced in bacteria, which can gnaw off the A and B antigens that cause the problem.
O blood cells don’t have either of these antigens. So if a type O patient – in true maths exam style, let’s call him Oswald - is given some of Anastasia or Bartholomew’s blood, he’s going to have a bad reaction. His immune system will start producing lots of A or B antibody to combat the foreign cells.
These new enzymes could put an end to the need for blood type matching altogether. And make Oswald a happy man.
If you liked this, you might want to take a look at Hayley's other articles.
Or you could stick to the medical theme:
Make a Honey Trap for Viruses
A is for Amino Acid
How Does That Work? Stem Cells
Outside site links:
Secrets in the blood (National Blood Service)
Well, if you were rushed into hospital today with an arm hanging off, how easy do you think it would be to get a blood transfusion?
It depends on your blood type. If you’re group O - the most common – you could only hope there would be some in stock, since group O blood is not compatible with anything but more group O. (Just to reassure you, when we last checked out the UK blood bank, there was around ten days’ worth).
If you’re A, B or AB, on the other hand, you can take a transfusion of your own type, or of type O.
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But how can you change one blood type into another?
It’s all down to scientists at the University of Copenhagen, who have discovered some nifty little enzymes produced in bacteria, which can gnaw off the A and B antigens that cause the problem.
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O blood cells don’t have either of these antigens. So if a type O patient – in true maths exam style, let’s call him Oswald - is given some of Anastasia or Bartholomew’s blood, he’s going to have a bad reaction. His immune system will start producing lots of A or B antibody to combat the foreign cells.
These new enzymes could put an end to the need for blood type matching altogether. And make Oswald a happy man.
If you liked this, you might want to take a look at Hayley's other articles.
Or you could stick to the medical theme:
Make a Honey Trap for Viruses
A is for Amino Acid
How Does That Work? Stem Cells
Outside site links:
Secrets in the blood (National Blood Service)
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