Bikini Bottom: Blood Type Genetics And Codominance Page 2

Those Type A and Type B carbohydrate molecules are called antigens. Antigens are also present

on the surface of viruses and bacteria—things that invade your body and do harm. So how does

your body tell the difference between your own cells

and an intruder? It looks at the antigens: if the antigens

on the foreign substance don’t match the ones on the

rest of your cells, your body produces special proteins

called antibodies to kill the intruder.

3. Your blood cells have Type A antigens. Will your body produce antibodies to kill a virus with

Type B antigens?

4. You have blood type AB. Will your body produce antibodies to kill a virus with Type A

antigens?

5. Your body will also attack blood cells that have the wrong antibodies. Test your

understanding of blood groups by filling in the blanks in the chart below.

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