Submitted by Lost-Wash-5521 t3_11ndinf in askscience
Given Rh +/- proteins and ABO blood types, is it possible for this transfusion to happen?
Example: Horse + Donkey = Mule Same Species
Submitted by Lost-Wash-5521 t3_11ndinf in askscience
Given Rh +/- proteins and ABO blood types, is it possible for this transfusion to happen?
Example: Horse + Donkey = Mule Same Species
Tsunnyjim t1_jbnjppv wrote
There are a lot more markers in your red blood cells than just Rhesus and ABO grouping.
Plus there a whole lot of other things in blood, like your white blood cells, platelets and plasma.
It's theoretically possible, but not likely, as any one factor being off can lead to rejection. Heck, it's tricky enough getting human blood transfusions right. It's more likely that blood plasma can be used, since it removes the majority of the cellular content, but I don't know that anyone has done a comparative study on human and primate blood plasma.
Also, I feel you are getting two things confused here. Blood transfusions are one thing; horse, donkey, mule genetics is a whole different thing.
Humans and primates are different species with no ability to mate with viable offspring.
Horses and donkeys are also separate species, but are closely enough related that they can mate and produce a sterile hybrid mule.