Picture from im.encyklopedie.seznam.cz
Jan Janksy
Jan Jansky was a Czech Psychiatrist, Neurologist, and Serologist. He was born on April 3 , 1873 and died on September 8, 1921. His most famous, and most notable, achievement was the classification of blood into the four blood types, A, B, AB and O. His classification system is a vital part of medical knowledge and continues to be used today.
Jan Jansky discovered blood types by accident in 1907. He was investigating whether there was a correlation between blood diseases and mental illnesses. His research revealed no correlation, but to conduct his research he had discovered blood types. Understanding blood types is essential to many medical procedures, most importantly blood transfusions.
Jansky’s discovery of blood types went almost completely unnoticed until 1921 when the American Medical Commission acknowledged that his way of classification was correct, not German scientist Karl Landsteiner’s, who classified blood into only three groups. Today the Jansky Medal (Janského plaketa) is awarded to frequent Czech blood donors.
Blood Types
Blood types, everybody has heard of them, but what exactly are they and why are they important? Blood typing tells what specific type of blood you have. What type you have depends on whether or not there are certain proteins, called antigens, on the red blood cells or if there are antibodies to these substances.
This is important, because mixing blood containing antigens with different blood containing the antibodies to those antigens causes the blood to clot. This could be fatal in a blood transfusion. Blood with the same antigens or without any antigens can be received, but the wrong mix will kill you.
Jan Jansky’s discovery may have saved your life!
Blood: Give and Receive
|
Blood Type |
Can Give To |
Can Receive |
|
A+ |
A+ AB+ |
A+ A- O+ O- |
|
A- |
A+ A- AB+ AB- |
A- O- |
|
B+ |
B+ AB+ |
B+ B- O+ O- |
|
B- |
B+ B- AB+ AB- |
B- O- |
|
AB+ |
AB+ |
Any Type |
|
AB- |
AB+ AB- |
AB- A- B- O- |
|
O+ |
O+ A+ B+ AB+ |
O+ O- |
|
O- |
Any Type |
O- |
Percent of Population
|
Blood Type |
Percent of People |
|
A+ |
34% |
|
A- |
6% |
|
B+ |
9% |
|
B- |
2% |
|
AB+ |
3% |
|
AB- |
1% |
|
O+ |
38% |
|
O- |
7% |
Antigens in Your Blood
|
Blood Type |
Antigen Type(s) |
|
A+ |
Only A |
|
A- |
Only A |
|
B+ |
Only B |
|
B- |
Only B |
|
AB+ |
A and B |
|
AB- |
A and B |
|
O+ |
No Antigens |
|
O- |
No Antigens |
Picture from www.teenperspectives.com
Please Note: This website was made for a school project called Tyromaynia. All information is believed to be true by the author, but may or may not be accurate. © 2009 Nickie Mitch
