Chimps and Heamoglobin

[Dr. Cox M.D.]

Because the structure of chimp haemoglobin has the same amino acid sequence as humans can chimp blood be transfused into humans or vice versa?

[gonelli]

I would think not.

 

Firstly because even though the amino acid sequence is the same, the actual structure of the overall protein may be different. Of course, that's only an educated guess. Maybe the protein in humans and in chimps are structured the same way, I don't know.

 

The other reason why I think it wouldn't work would be because transferring blood doesn't just involve transferring haemoglobin, but rather whole blood cells. Even though the red blood cells don't have a nucleus (the reason blood transfers can be done in humans), I would suspect that there would be other aspects of the cell that differ between humans and chimps. Perhaps different markers and antigens on the surface. Actually, that's just provoked an interesing thought. The antigens would be different because chimps wouldn't have the same blood groups as humans would, I think. I'll have to look that up now.