Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
ABO Blood Group System
The ABO blood group system classifies human blood into four main phenotypes: A, B, AB, and O, based on the presence or absence of antigens on the surface of red blood cells. The A and B alleles are responsible for the A and B antigens, while the O allele does not produce any antigens. Understanding this system is crucial for determining the possible genotypes associated with each phenotype.
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Genotypes and Phenotypes
A genotype refers to the genetic constitution of an individual, while a phenotype is the observable expression of that genotype. For the ABO blood types, the possible genotypes include AA, AO (for phenotype A), BB, BO (for phenotype B), AB (for phenotype AB), and OO (for phenotype O). Recognizing the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes is essential for listing all possible genotypes for the given blood types.
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Codominance
Codominance is a form of inheritance where both alleles in a heterozygous individual contribute equally and visibly to the phenotype. In the case of the ABO blood types, the A and B alleles are codominant, meaning that individuals with genotype AB express both A and B antigens. This concept is key to understanding the inheritance pattern of the ABO blood group system, distinguishing it from simple dominance and recessiveness.
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