Q: Hello Dr. Ketch. Good morning. Please Dr. my question is, is it possible for a child to have a different blood group from both parents?? Both parents happen to be B+ but the child’s O+. Please doc, how is this possible? Thanks and God bless ma’am

A: Yes it is possible. Remember that we inherit our blood groups from our parents. So each parent brings something to the table. The child eventually has the blood group with the dominant genes. Blood groups A and B are co-dominant but O is recessive. This means that the presence of the O gene is usually masked by the more dominant A or B genes. Now all that grammar 😀 simply means that:

A person with blood group A, may actually have inherited two ‘A’ genes from both parents (one from each parent) or one A gene from one parent and one O gene from another parent. In the same way, a person with blood group B may have inherited two B genes (one from each parent) or one B gene from one parent and one O gene from another parent. So, the parents could have different blood groups from the child, depending on the gene expressed.

Here’s a guide:

As they say in Secondary School debates, I hope I’ve convinced and not confused you that it is possible for a child to have a different blood group from the parents 😀 This situation may not be suggestive of hanky-panky on any side; it also may not mean that there was child swapping involved and you need to trust me on this….there are no remote controls working overtime in the village trying to rob you of your bundle of joy 😀

Have a good night y’all 🙂 Sleep tight