Final answer:
The glycolipid carbohydrates of the red blood cell plasma membrane determine a person's blood type (A, B, AB, or O) in the ABO blood group system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The glycolipid carbohydrates of the red blood cell plasma membrane determine a person's blood type (A, B, AB, or O). The ABO blood group system is one of the most significant in terms of blood typing. It designates the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B, on the erythrocyte membrane surfaces. People whose erythrocytes have A antigens are blood type A, those with B antigens are blood type B, those with both A and B antigens are blood type AB, and those with neither A nor B antigens are blood type O.