Daily News Analysis ‘Bombay Blood group ‘: 11 February

What is a Blood Group?

• A blood group is a way to classify blood based on certain markers (antigens) present on red blood cells. It helps in blood transfusions and organ transplants.

What is Bombay Blood Group?

• The Bombay blood group is a very rare type, mostly found in India and South Asia.
• The Bombay, a.k.a. HH, blood group is a rare blood group first discovered in Mumbai in 1952 by Y.M. Bhende. 
• The main difference between the Bombay blood group and common ABO blood groups is the H antigen. 
• Normally, the H antigen helps form A and B antigens. However, in Bombay blood group individuals, the gene for H antigen is missing or mutated, so A and B antigens cannot form. 
  • This means they cannot receive blood from any ABO group and can only get blood from another Bombay blood group donor.
• However, in 2024, a patient with the rare Bombay blood group got a kidney from his mother, even though her blood group was different. Doctors at MIOT International in Chennai made this first-ever cross-blood transplant possible.

Why in News?

• A recent paper in Kidney International Reports documents how doctors in Chennai successfully performed cross-blood transplants, which were once thought impossible for Bombay blood group patients.