2.) Women who are Rh-negative but carry their first child that is Rh-positive will produce antibodies for the Rh factor when the blood mixes during delivery, which is referred to as Rh sensitization. This process generally does not harm that first child, but will be harmful to any additional offspring that are also Rh-positive the woman might have in the future. Based on what is discussed with antibody production in the background information, explain in your own words why the first child is not harmed, but future Rh-positive children are harmed by this Rh-sensitization.
Added by Douglas M.
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These antibodies will be directed against the Rh factor in the baby's blood. This process will generally not harm the baby, but it will be harmful to any additional offspring that the mother might Show more…
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In humans, Rh factor in red blood cells (Rh+) is the result of one or more autosomal dominant alleles (RR or Rr). Individuals with blood cells lacking the factor (Rh-) are homozygous recessive (rr). When a mother is Rh- and a fetus is Rh+, the fetus may develop Rh disease. This condition is caused by maternal antibodies against the factor that cross the placental barrier into the fetal bloodstream and destroy red blood cells. If an Rh- mother bears an Rh+ child, what were the mother's and father's possible blood types? If you learn that the child's paternal grandmother is Rh-, what must be the genotype of the father? With only the information given, could you predict with certainty that the woman's next child would also be Rh+?
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