3 ms·
While I understand why cells have ids on them to be able to detect self from non-self, why is this also happening for blood cells, which are basically just bags
by 21 8y ago
While I understand why cells have ids on them to be able to detect self from non-self, why is this also happening for blood cells, which are basically just bags with no genetic information inside? What's the evolution reason to guard against a foreign human blood cell?
- ta76567656 8y agoI'd assume it's because then a pathogen could just make itself look like a red blood cell to dodge the immune system.
- mchahn 8y agoAm I wrong in thinking that blood compatibility is basically a big allergy problem?
- keithwhor 8y agoMore generally, an immunological problem. But... a huge proportion of all human health problems can be considered immunological problems: overactive immunity (transplant rejections, inflammation disorders like Crohn's) or impaired immunity (inability to recognize cancers, acquired deficiencies from infection i.e. AIDS, etc.).
- Fomite 8y agohttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-people-have-differ/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-people-hav... for a decent lay-treatment of the question. One important thing to remember is that on an evolutionary time scale, the problems that arise from transfusion just started happening. There's been no time to select for them. Instead, different blood types have different selective advantages that help maintain them, and incompatibility isn't sufficiently detrimental to offset those advantages.