Name: What’s the point of blood types? - 6 Minute English
Uploaded: 2020-11-10T18:40:10.000Z
Duration: 6 min 19 s
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Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning

Ah, you mean the different groups used to

classify humans by blood – types A, B, AB

and O. I think I'm type O. How about you,

Well, it may sound strange but actually I

blood type, but in parts of Asia blood groups

are a topic of daily conversation. People

select romantic partners based on blood type

and different blood groups are associated

In this programme we'll be finding out all

about blood – why humans have different

blood types and whether blood is something

more than just a way of pumping oxygen around

vocabulary as well. Now, Neil, I have an interesting

fact for you - did you know that many Japanese

popstars' websites will feature their blood

type alongside information like their age

I didn't, Sam, but Japanese culture is certainly

which is used to describe hostility towards

people from a certain blood group considered

to be selfish – but which group? That's

my quiz question for today – which blood

OK, Sam, we'll find out the answer later.

As we've heard, blood is a big deal in Japan.

Marnie Chesterton, from BBC World Service

programme, CrowdScience, travelled to Tokyo

For blood type A, generally it is thought

they are perfectionists, more detail-oriented,

pretty much good at precise type jobs, and

that makes them good at helping others and

good at teamwork and respecting rules and

40 percent of Japan's population are sensitive,

anxious type As. 30 percent are curious and

stubborn, generous type Os. Ten percent are

creative ABs. But woe betide the twenty percent

type B because they have a far less desirable

According to Japanese tradition, blood type

As are perfectionists - people who want everything

to be perfect and demand the highest standards

This contrasts with type Os who are considered

to be stubborn – people who are determined

to do what they want and refuse to change

But it's unfortunate blood type Bs who have

the least desirable personality – selfish

and independent. “Woe betide the type Bs”

remarks the presenter, Marnie Chesterton – an

informal British expression said when there

will be trouble ahead for someone – in this

But apart from customs and traditions, is

there actually any science behind these beliefs?

Well, not according to Dr Emma Pomeroy of

Cambridge University's archaeology department.

She thinks that - like horoscopes – there's

no scientific basis for a connection between

Blood types are kinds of stickers or chemical

- the organs, cells and processes which protect

the human body from infection and illness.

Those chemical markers can identify foreign

bodies like pathogens - small organisms, such

a virus or bacteria, that can cause disease.

The variety of blood types seems to be a result

of different bodily responses to different

Which explains why blood of the same type

is needed in blood transfusions – medical

procedures in which blood is taken from one

person and put into another person's body,

often after an accident or during an operation.

And explains the high demand for type O blood

Ah, generous type Os – like me. I always

knew I was special… and curious and stubborn,

Subtitles ListPlay Video

What’s the point of blood types? - 6 Minute English

immune

expression

determine

vocabulary