Genes which have more than two alleles MULTIPLE ALLELES Genes which have more than two alleles © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Genes and their alleles About 30% of the genes in humans are di-allelic, that is they exist in two forms, (they have two alleles) About 70% are mono-allelic, they only exist in one form and they show no variation A very few are poly-allelic having more than two forms © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Combinations Di-allelic genes can generate 3 genotypes Genes with 3 alleles can generate 6 genotypes (3+2+1) Genes with 4 alleles can generate 10 genotypes Genes with 8 alleles can generate 36 genotypes © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Genes and the immune system Poly-allelic alleles are usually associated with tissue types These genes are so varied that they provide us with our genetic finger print This is very important to our immune system which must tell the difference between our own cells (self) and invading disease causing microbes (non-self) © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

The ABO blood system This is a controlled by a tri-allelic gene It can generate 6 genotypes The alleles control the production of antigens on the surface of the red blood cells Two of the alleles are codominant to one another and both are dominant over the third Allele IA produces antigen A Allele IB produces antigen B Allele i produces no antigen © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

The ABO blood system Genotypes Phenotypes (Blood types) IA IA A IA IB IB IB B IBi ii O Note: Blood types A and B have two possible genotypes – homozygous and heterozygous. Blood types AB and O only have one genotype each. © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Blood types and transfusions Blood types vary and your immune system recognises your own blood type as being self Other blood types are recognised as non-self If a blood which is incompatible with your body is transfused it will result in the agglutination of the foreign red blood cells © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Antigens © Bioformatica © Biology Labs Online

Agglutination © Dr Delphine Grézel, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Lyon

Blood types and transfusions People who are Type A blood produce antibodies to agglutinate cells which carry Type B antigens They recognise them as non-self The opposite is true for people who are Type B Neither of these people will agglutinate blood cells which are Type O Type O cells do not carry any antigens for the ABO system Type O cells pass incognito What about type AB people? © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Donor-recipient compatibility Type A B AB O Donor Note: Type O blood may be transfused into all the other types = the universal donor. Type AB blood can receive blood from all the other blood types = the universal recipient. = Agglutination = Safe transfusion © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS