Blood type is an inherited trait that is determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens on the surface of red blood cells. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O, each with its own unique set of antigens. Understanding the possible blood type combinations of parents and their offspring is important in medical practice, genetic counseling, and forensic investigations.
The table below shows the possible blood types of a child based on the combinations of the mother’s and father’s blood types. Use this blood type calculator to determine your child’s potential blood types.
| Father’s Blood Type |
Mother’s Blood Type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | AB | O | |
| A | A or O | AB, A, B or O | AB, A or B | A or O |
| B | AB, A, B or O | B or O | AB, A or B | B or O |
| AB | AB, A or B | AB, A or B | AB, A or B | A or B |
| O | A or O | B or O | A or B | O |
As you can see, the child’s blood type can be predicted by the blood types of their parents.
For example, if both parents have type O blood, their child will also have type O blood. However, if one parent has type A blood and the other has type B blood, their child could have type A, type B, type AB, or type O blood. This information can be useful in determining the potential blood type of a child, which can be important in medical emergencies or when planning a family.