Science Common Sense

1282 - Why is the ABO blood type of humans a heritable trait?

The ABO blood type is heritable because it's controlled by a specific gene. This gene is like a blueprint for the body that tells it how to make a type of sugar on the surface of red blood cells.

There are three main versions of this gene: A, B, and O. If you get the A version from your parents, you'll have A type blood. If you get the B version, you'll have B type blood. If you get the O version, you'll have O type blood. If you get both A and B versions, you'll have AB type blood.

You get one version of this gene from each parent, which is why your blood type can be different from theirs. Since the gene you get is from your parents and it determines your blood type, the ABO blood type is a heritable trait, or something that's passed down from parents to their children.