What blood type do the parents have if their child is AB?
Disease description:
My son has AB blood type, but neither his father nor I have ever had a blood test and we don't know our own blood types. I would like to ask, what blood types could the parents have if the child is AB?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
When a child has blood type AB, the possible combinations of the parents' blood types can be one of the following: one parent is type AB and the other parent is type A, B, or AB; or both parents are type AB.
Blood type is determined by antigens on the surface of red blood cells and is mainly divided into four types: A, B, AB, and O. Blood type inheritance follows Mendelian genetic laws and is jointly determined by genes from both parents. Type A and type B blood are determined by the A gene and B gene, respectively.
When a child has blood type AB, there are several possible combinations of the parents' blood types. If one parent has blood type AB and the other parent has blood type A, B, or AB, it is possible for them to have a child with blood type AB, because AB blood type can provide both A and B antigens, and when combined with either an A-type or B-type parent, an AB-type child may result. If both parents are type AB, their child must also be type AB, because both parents can provide both A and B antigens.
