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

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning

English. I’m Neil.

And I’m Sam.

Sam, what blood type are you?

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,

Neil?

Well, it may sound strange but actually I

don’t know.

Hmm, lots of westerners don’t know their

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

with different personalities.

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

your body.

And of course we’ll be learning some new

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

and hobbies?

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

interested in blood. There’s even a word

‘burahara’ meaning ‘blood harassment’,

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

types may fall victim to ‘burahara’?

Is it:

a) blood type A? b) blood type B? Or

c) blood type O?

I’ll say a) blood type A.

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

where she asked Japanese translator,

Chie Kobayashi, to explain more:

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

customs. That’s a typical blood A type.

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

personality, apparently.

According to Japanese tradition, blood type

As are perfectionists - people who want everything

to be perfect and demand the highest standards

possible.

This contrasts with type Os who are considered

to be stubborn – people who are determined

to do what they want and refuse to change

their mind.

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

case, poor type Bs!

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 and personalities.

Which makes me wonder what exactly

blood types are.

Blood types are kinds of stickers or chemical

markers which support our immune system

- 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

disease-causing pathogens.

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

which can be given to anyone.

Ah, generous type Os – like me. I always

knew I was special… and curious and stubborn,

wasn’t that the type O personality?

Oh yes, today’s quiz question was about

blood type personalities. I asked you which

undesirable blood type is considered selfish

in Japan.

I said a) blood type A.

But as we’ve heard, it’s actually b) blood

type B.

Never mind, I’ll settle for being curious,

stubborn and generous! In today’s programme

we’ve been talking all about blood types

and personalities. In Japan, blood type A

people are thought of as perfectionists - people

who want everything to be perfect.

Unlike type Os who are considered stubborn

– determined to get their own way and unwilling

to change.

And woe betide selfish type Bs – an informal

expression said when there will be trouble

for someone or if they will be punished for

doing a particular thing.

Scientifically speaking, blood types help

support our immune system - the organs and

cellular processes which protect the human

body from infection.

They also help identify foreign pathogens

- small organisms, such a virus or bacteria,

that can cause a disease.

And explain why the same blood type is needed

for a successful blood transfusion – the

procedure in which blood is transferred from

one person’s body to another during an operation.

That’s all we have time for today. Bye for

now.

Bye!