Blood group refers to the classification of blood based on the presence or absence of certain antigens on the surface of red blood cells. The most well-known blood group system is the ABO system, which categorizes blood into four main groups: A, B, AB, and O. These groups are determined by the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B.
People with blood group A have antigen A on their red blood cells, people with blood group B have antigen B, people with blood group AB have both antigens A and B, and people with blood group O have neither antigen. Additionally, blood group can also be positive or negative, which refers to the presence or absence of the Rh antigen.
Knowing a person's blood group is important in medical situations, such as blood transfusions or organ transplants, as compatibility between the donor and recipient's blood groups is crucial to prevent adverse reactions. Blood group can also have implications in determining paternity and in certain genetic disorders.
It is worth noting that blood group is inherited from parents, with specific combinations determining the blood group of offspring.