Genetics for Blood Bank Flashcards
blood group genetics
- antigen’s structure & location on RBC
- antibodies they elicit
- genetically defined
- serologically defined
genes
basic units of inheritance that encode for certain traits or visible characteristics
chromosomes
double strands of DNA that contain genetic information
mitosis
cell division of somatic cells - 2N daughter cells
Meiosis
cell division of gametes that result in 4 1N cells
Mendelian genetics
each parent contributes half of their genes to their offspring
Punnett squares
illustrates the probabilities of phenotypes from known or inferred genotypes
loci
specific locations on chromosomes where genes are located
alleles
different forms of the same gene & may exist for each locus
polymorphic
refers to a genetic system that expresses 2+ phenotypes (ABO system & HLA system)
antithetical
‘opposite’ refers to antigens encoded by alleles at the same locus where you can have either one antigen or the other, not both
ex: Kell system
amorphs
silent genes that do not produce a detectable antigen due to gene structural changes (deletions or frameshifts)
ABO amorph - O type
suppressor gene
inhibits the expression of another gene and can lead to a null phenotype
codominant
equal expression of genes
ex: A type & B type = AB
Gene dosage effects
if an individual is homozygous they will have a higher antigen expression and therefore a greater agglutination reaction
