What Does the Rh Stand for in Blood Types

November 23, 2021

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The Rhesus factor, specifically rhesus negative, has been a topic of interest for discussions in medical science for a long time.

Below are some of the interesting facts you may want to know about Rh negative blood type.

1. The Rh negative blood type is not a 'mutation'.

Rhesus factor, referred to as the Rh factor, is a protein in the human blood.

The term is derived due to the first discovery of the protein substance in the blood of Rhesus monkeys.

The fact that a number of people lack this factor is a puzzling phenomenon that tends to defy the evolution story arising the question on where did they come from?

2. A disadvantage to pregnancy.

In situations where a couple have different rhesus factor blood types, it puts their children at risk.

This happens most especially when the child picks up the rhesus factor from the father that differs from that of the mother's.

It leads to a build up of antibodies in the mother's blood that causes it to fight or react to pregnancy of the second child resulting to death.

3. Rh negative blood type is rare.

In reference to whole of the world's population, only about 15% lack the rhesus factor.

The remaining 85% are Rh positive, making them more favorable.

Lacking Rh factor canlead to problems especially in cases where blood transfusion or organ transplant is needed urgently.

4. More prone to allergies.

People with the Rh negative blood type are more prone to be affected by allergies, especially food allergies.

This results in having them being more picky when it comes to food preferences.

5. Better natural resistance to particular disease.

Studies show that the 15% of humans who lack the rhesus factor are gifted with natural resistance to HIV, small pox and bubonic plague.

By being resistant to these diseases, it means that they are less susceptible to suffer from them as opposed to those with the Rhesus factor.

6. Lack D antigen.

This is a very important factor especially for pregnant women. Blood that lacks the D antigen tends to reject it's own unborn baby especially if the baby is Rhesus positive.

It is commonly referred to as 'hemolytic disease' or death of the unborn.

This is a major disadvantage for people who belongs to the Rh negative blood group.

7. Lack protective antigen.

Rh negative blood type lacks an antigen that perpetuate the release of antibodies in the event of an invasion by viruses and bacteria.

This specific antigen is found on the surface of the erythrocytes exclusively in Rhesus positive blood type individuals.

This explains the weakness in Rhesus negative people against several types of diseases and illnesses.

8. Do better at high altitudes.

Rhesus negative people have a greater oxygen capacity thus are more adaptable to higher altitudes like the mountains.

This seems to explain a story about a tribe in China that dies when relocated to lower altitudes.

Fascinatingly, they do not require the adjustment most would require when moving to higher altitudes.

9. Unknown Origin.

It is assumed that Rhesus negative blood type is specific to group O which is the purest type of blood and the rarest.

It remains unknown to date where the negative factor came from.

There is a theory that tells it is a product of connected bloodline from prehistoric humans to present day people.

10. Higher occurrence in whites, most noticeably Europeans.

Generally, there are about 40 – 45% of Europeans who belong to the Rh negative group.

There are only about 3% of African people and about 1% of Asian or Native American individuals who belong to the Rh negative group.