Question

In humans, the dominant gene "D" codes for the Rh protein on the surfaces of red

blood cells. The recessive allele "d" does not encode a cell surface protein. If cells
from an individual who is "DD" or "Dd" (Rh+) enter the bloodstream of an individual
who is "dd" (Rh-), these Rh factors will be recognized as foreign in the bloodstream
and the humoral immune response will be activated. Rhincompatibility occurs in
women who have Rh negative blood and a baby who has Rh positive red blood cells.
Generally, this is risky for the baby because the mother can causes hemolytic anemia
(destruction of red blood cells) in the baby because her body sees the babies Rh factor
as an antigen. Describe how the mother's immune system causes hemolytic anemia in
the baby (be sure to include in your explanation the role of the antigen, the B cell and
the antibody)

Answer 1

The hemolytic anemia is a disorder in which the destruction of the RBCs is faster than their production of the RBCs. Hemolysis is the term used for the destruction of the RBCs.

The body of an individual produces antibodies if it senses or there is an antigen that is foreign to the body that helps in the destruction or removal of the particular antigen with the help of antibodies or B cells.

Rh(D) antigen is foreign to the Rh-negative woman as her RBCs surface lack the D antigen so if RBCs expressed to mother blood, IgG production begins and travels to the fetus through the placenta and start destroying RBCs of the fetus. Hemolysis of fetus results in hemolytic anemia and some times death of the baby.