Question

Classifying Blood Types: Human blood is classified as

either Rh+ or Rh-. Blood is also classified by type: A, if it

contains an A antigen but not a B antigen; B, if it contains a

B antigen but not an A antigen; AB, if it contains both A and

B antigens; and O, if it contains neither antigen. Draw a Venn

diagram illustrating the various blood types. Based on this

classification, how many different kinds of blood are there?

Short answer

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Types}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{human}\mathrm{blood}: \\ {\mathrm{A}}^{+},{\mathrm{A}}^{-},{\mathrm{B}}^{+},{\mathrm{B}}^{-},{\mathrm{AB}}^{+},{\mathrm{AB}}^{-},{\mathrm{O}}^{+},{\mathrm{O}}^{-} \end{gathered}$$

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Given information

Human blood is classified as either Rh+ or Rh-.

Blood is also classified by type: A, if it contains an A antigen but not a B antigen;

B, if it contains a B antigen but not an A antigen;

AB, if it contains both A and B antigens;

and O, if it contains neither antigen.

 Step 2. Calculation

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Based}\mathrm{on}\mathrm{this}\mathrm{classification}, \\ \mathrm{number}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{different}\mathrm{kinds}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{blood}: \\ 1.{\mathrm{A}}^{+} \\ 2.{\mathrm{A}}^{-} \\ 3.{\mathrm{B}}^{+} \\ 4.{\mathrm{B}}^{-} \\ 5.{\mathrm{AB}}^{+} \\ 6.{\mathrm{AB}}^{-} \\ 7.{\mathrm{O}}^{+} \\ 8.{\mathrm{O}}^{-} \end{gathered}$$