Traditional blood typing methods rely on serological techniques that identify RBC antigens through antigen-antibody reactions. These methods depend on specific reagents, which are often unavailable for less common blood types, creating potential clinical risks from undetected blood types, leading to transfusion reactions. Genotyping presents a promising alternative, using DNA microarrays to identify genetic markers, including SNPs, insertions/deletions, and SVs. This approach provides comprehensive insights into an individual’s genetic makeup, including blood type determinants. Moreover, the chip can analyze multiple markers simultaneously, offering a scalable and cost-effective solution for large-scale blood typing. Biobank projects have generated extensive genomic datasets, enabling research to identify genetic variations associated to specific blood types through GWAS.
Objectives:
1. To conduct GWAS using large-scale biobank data to identify genetic variants associated with a wide range of blood types, aiming to provide a comprehensive genetic catalogue of blood group determinants.
2. To utilize the identified genetic variants to design a DNA microarray chip that accurately determines an individual’s extended blood type profile by testing for multiple genetic markers simultaneously.
3. To validate the DNA microarray chip through extensive testing with diverse populations and clinical samples, evaluating its accuracy and reliability against traditional serological methods. Furthermore, we will explore the potential for integrating this technology into clinical practice by working with collaborators.
Research questions:
1. What genetic variants are associated with a comprehensive range of blood types as identified through GWAS?
2. How accurately can the designed DNA microarray chip determine an individual’s extended blood type profile compared to traditional serological methods?