Final answer:
The Rh blood group system is not based on carbohydrates, in contrast to the ABO blood group system which is based on glycolipids. Rh antigens, such as the major D antigen, are proteins that do not have a carbohydrate component. This differentiation is crucial in the context of blood transfusions and understanding blood type incompatibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The blood group system that is not based on carbohydrates is the Rh blood group system. Unlike the ABO blood group system, which involves antigens that are glycoproteins, the antigens in the Rh system are proteins without a carbohydrate component.
The most significant antigen in the Rh system is the D antigen. Individuals who possess the D antigen are referred to as Rh positive, while those who lack it are called Rh negative.
In the ABO system, which was discovered by Karl Landsteiner, the antigens are glycolipids known as antigen A and antigen B. Blood types in the ABO system are determined by the presence or absence of these antigens and are inherited, displaying patterns of dominant, codominant, and recessive inheritance.
Blood type O is considered the universal donor in transfusions because it lacks the A and B antigens, thus reducing the risk of incompatibility reactions. By contrast, the Rh factor does not involve carbohydrates but is still critical in blood transfusions and Rh incompatibility.
ABO Blood Group Incompatibility
ABO blood type incompatibility can lead to agglutination or clumping of red blood cells when incompatible types are mixed. For example, combining type A and type B blood can cause clotting and potential kidney failure due to agglutination, highlighting the significance of proper blood typing before transfusions.