ATOT biologists: why are there multiple blood types?

[Craig234]

What is the evolutionary reason for there to be multiple blood types - not even distributed randomly, like gender? Why that added complexity?

 

[Crono]

Different blood types offer protection against certain parasites and viruses.

 

[imagoon]

It has to do with disease resistance / survival. There are certain diseases that are harder on certain blood types than others. It is part of the biodiversity that allows us to survive.

 

[fralexandr]

the most commonly taught one is sickle cell disease/anemia (not a strict "blood type" blood type)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle_cell_disease#Genetics

 

[Gibsons]

What is the evolutionary reason for there to be multiple blood types - not even distributed randomly, like gender? Why that added complexity?

Imo, just simple divergence for the most part. There are some disease issues but they are rare. Transfusions haven't mattered until the last hundred years or so, so there's no reason for different surface antigens not to have emerged. Ignoring some pregnancy issues.

In some way, I guess the answer is "Why not?"

 

[Gibsons]

the most commonly taught one is sickle cell disease/anemia (not a strict "blood type" blood type)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle_cell_disease#Genetics

yeah, hemoglobin mutations are a different thing from blood types. Might not even see rejections based on it, if you did, they would likely be very mild.

 

[fralexandr]

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/gen...uman_blood_types_have_deep_evolutionary_roots

pretty interesting, supposedly, A/B/O divergence occurred ~20 million years ago.
article also covers some blood type vs pathogen resistance

 

[Narse]

All I know is you can put anybody's blood in me and I will be just fine.

 

[Craig234]

All I know is you can put anybody's blood in me and I will be just fine.

This thread is for humans, not vampires.

You're off-topic.

 

[Craig234]

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/gen...uman_blood_types_have_deep_evolutionary_roots

pretty interesting, supposedly, A/B/O divergence occurred ~20 million years ago.
article also covers some blood type vs pathogen resistance

Thanks for the link.

The main sentence I take away from it is:

"Exactly why evolution would favor a mix of blood types in so many species is a mystery. "

The fact different types have different benefits doesn't explain why they haven't evolved where one type gains the various benefits.

It still is a mystery for me why this complexity evolved rather than a simpler single type.

 

[Narse]

This thread is for humans, not vampires.

You're off-topic.

But I don't drink blood! :-(

 

[HumblePie]

Thanks for the link.

The main sentence I take away from it is:

"Exactly why evolution would favor a mix of blood types in so many species is a mystery. "

The fact different types have different benefits doesn't explain why they haven't evolved where one type gains the various benefits.

It still is a mystery for me why this complexity evolved rather than a simpler single type.

Simplest answer is that life is designed to evolve on this planet. Why life changes, we don't know. We only know that it does and only some of the factors that govern changes.

 

[Crono]

This thread is for humans, not vampires.

Racist.

 

[Craig234]

Simplest answer is that life is designed to evolve on this planet. Why life changes, we don't know. We only know that it does and only some of the factors that govern changes.

I'm looking for a little less groovy, a little more specific

 

[Craig234]

Racist.

No, I encourage you to make a separate but equal thread for them.

 

[OCGuy]

The same reason men have nipples: To put peanut butter on and rub until they can cut diamonds.

 

[Brigandier]

Blood types can still mate with another, think of it as gender-lite.

 

[Craig234]

Blood types can still mate with another, think of it as gender-lite.

There is almost nothing in common with the two.

I was jest mentioning gender is evenly split, blood types are not.

 

[Brigandier]

There is almost nothing in common with the two.

I was jest mentioning gender is evenly split, blood types are not.

I know, I guess my point was that blood types show no reproductive preference. A can fuck B, AB and O, positive and negative for that.

 

[DeadFred]

There are different blood types because vampires need and like a little variety in their diet.

Why is the OP such an anti-vampite?

 

[Gibsons]

There is almost nothing in common with the two.

I was jest mentioning gender is evenly split, blood types are not.

In a large population, it's impossible for all of them to stay the same, especially when the mutations are neutral.

We just know a lot about this one because it showed up so prominently when they first did transfusions and the experiments demonstrating it are easy to do. Just get a few drops of blood and a microscope slide and you're almost done.

If there's a similar neutral difference between say, bone cells, we aren't going to see it so easily.

 

[surfsatwerk]

All I know is you can put anybody's blood in me and I will be just fine.

AB+

*fistkiss*

 

[techs]

Do other mammals have different blood types?

 

[Gibsons]

Do other mammals have different blood types?

Yes.

 

[tcsenter]

It's the perfect number of blood types, too. And they fit in your hand!