Final answer:
Blood type compatibility is a critical biological concept determining which blood types can be safely transfused between individuals. People with O negative blood are universal donors, and those with AB positive blood are universal recipients. Statistics and percentages, such as those provided by the American Red Cross, help understand the distribution of blood types within a population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The information provided revolves around blood types and their compatibility for transfusions, which is a core concept in Biology. Individuals with blood type O negative are known as universal donors because they lack antigens on their red blood cells (RBCs), preventing an immune response in the recipient. Conversely, individuals with type AB positive blood are regarded as universal recipients because their blood lacks anti-A and anti-B antibodies, allowing them to accept blood from any ABO blood type.
Statistics from different organizations highlight that the prevalence of certain blood types varies, but they consistently emphasize the importance of understanding compatibility for safe blood transfusions. The American Red Cross notes that roughly 45% of the U.S. population has Type O blood. It is also mentioned that the blood types of people arriving at a blood drive are independent, and the number of type B blood types that arrive roughly follows the Poisson distribution.
Type AB blood contains both A and B antigens, and hence, can accept all blood types but can only donate to other AB individuals. The A and B antigens present on the surface of RBCs were discovered in 1900 and 1901 by Karl Landsteiner, which led to the knowledge of blood type compatibility we use today in medicine.