ABO blood group system the precise glycosyl transferase set that confers the A, B and O epitopes. Blood groups are inherited from both parents. The ABO blood type is controlled by a single gene (the ABO gene) with three types of alleles inferred from classical genetics: "i", "I", and "I". The "I" designation stands for isoagglutinogen, another term for antigen. The gene encodes a glycosyltransferase—that is, an enzyme that modifies the carbohydrate content of the red blood cell antigens. The gene is located on the long arm of the ninth chromosome (9q34). The "I" allele gives type A, "I" gives type B, and "i"
ABO blood group system it is more likely that the force driving evolution of allele diversity is simply negative frequency-dependent selection; cells with rare variants of membrane antigens are more easily distinguished by the immune system from pathogens carrying antigens from other hosts. Thus, individuals possessing rare types are better equipped to detect pathogens. The high within-population diversity observed in human populations would, then, be a consequence of natural selection on individuals. HIV can be neutralized in "in vitro" experiments using antibodies against blood group antigens specifically expressed on the HIV-producing cell lines. The carbohydrate molecules on the surfaces of red blood cells have