Final answer:
Blood type O- is the universal donor and lacks A, B, and Rh antigens but has anti-A and anti-B antibodies. Blood type AB+ is the universal recipient, contains A, B, and Rh antigens, and does not have anti-A or anti-B antibodies. These properties determine compatibility for blood transfusions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of Blood Types O- and AB+
The blood types O- and AB+ have distinct characteristics due to the presence or absence of certain antigens and antibodies.
- Type O- blood lacks A antigen, B antigen, and the Rh antigen. It has both anti-A and anti-B antibodies and is known as the universal donor because it can be donated to individuals of any ABO blood type without causing an immune reaction.
- Type AB+ blood has both A antigen and B antigen, as well as the Rh antigen. It lacks anti-A and anti-B antibodies, making it the universal recipient because individuals with this blood type can receive blood from any ABO donor.
Type O- blood will agglutinate, or clump, if exposed to anti-A sera or anti-B sera due to its anti-A and anti-B antibodies. Conversely, Type AB+ does not contain these antibodies and thus will not agglutinate when combined with either A or B antigens.