The most popularly known blood grouping is the $\mathrm{ABO}$ grouping. It is named $\mathrm{ABO}$ and not…

The most popularly known blood grouping is the $\mathrm{ABO}$ grouping. It is named $\mathrm{ABO}$ and not $A B C$, because ' $O$ ' in it refers to having
  1. other antigens besides A and B on RBCs
  2. over dominance of this type on the genes for A and $B$ types
  3. one antibody only-either anti-A or anti-B on the RBCs
  4. no antigens $A$ and $B$ on RBCs

Solution

Landsteiner divided human population into four groups based on the presence of antigens found in their RBCs. Each group represented a blood group. Thus, there are four types of blood groups A, B, AB and O. Blood group ' $O$ ' does not contain any antigen on RBCs, hence can be given to any person, that's why this blood group is called universal donor.

Asked in: NEET 2009 (Screening)

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