Each person’s blood type is different because there are various combinations of different protein molecules called antigens and antibodies that make up the blood.
For example, antigens are found on the surface of red blood cells; Antibodies appear in blood plasma. In animals, blood groups are formed similarly, but not all of them have the same blood group. How Does? Come on, let’s see.
Antigens on red blood cells determine the blood types of animals, but…
Animals cannot give or receive blood from other living things. This is because; The antigen is a substance with protein structure such as a virus, parasite, and bacteria that causes the formation of antibodies when it enters the body. When animals receive blood from different species, it can be very deadly. Of course, it is the same with humans. A person can only receive a blood transfusion from another person whose blood type is compatible.
When we look at the blood group system of animals…
As mentioned above, since the antigens in the blood of animals are different from each other, the blood group system of each animal species is different from each other. For example, when we look at dogs; While one dog’s blood group is called DEA (Canine erythrocyte antigen), we see that another dog’s blood group number may be different. This shows that dogs have very different blood types even within themselves. For example, dogs have 8 blood types: 1.1, 1.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Cats have a simpler blood group system than dogs. Because cats only have 3 blood types, A, B and AB.
Of course, it should not be concluded that blood structures are similar to humans because this is just a name similarity. For example, horses have 8 blood types, sheep 7, cattle 11, pigs 16, and goats 5 blood types.
Monkeys are thought to have blood groups similar to humans.
This claim is based on data from experiments on a small group of monkeys. Experts say that monkeys have similar, if not identical, blood types to humans’ A, B, and O blood type systems. Academics state that in order for a blood transfusion (blood transfusion) to be successful, there must be another blood group that has similar characteristics to people’s blood groups. In this respect, it is thought that blood transfusions could theoretically be performed between mammalian species such as monkeys and humans, if a suitable match is made.
However, it should not be forgotten that there are too many differences between AB-0 blood groups among these types, which can negatively affect the success of transfusion. Scholars attribute these differences to the evolution of human ancestors and ape species by diverging from each other in terms of reproduction. Because experts say that for this reason, the genes that determine the molecules on the surface of red blood cells mutate and begin to differentiate. Thus, they think that their blood structures also differed from each other.
Sources: Science Focus, BYJU’S, Majalahinggris, ABC
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