Blood groups

[blackfive]

Do other mammals have several different blood goups as humans have? Whether they do or not; are different blood groups somehow associated with the evolutionary process?

[rekstout]

I think dogs don't have the same blood mixing problems we have - I'm sure our vet said dogs are all universal donors and receivers.

[Quizmonster]

There may not be the same drastic mixing problems as humans experience, but cats, for example, appear to have three blood groups, whilst dogs have eight. Greyhounds can be used as 'universal' dog blood-donors, as theirs seems to match every other breed's. The same does not seem to apply to others. Certainly cross-species blood-transfusion is a no-no...a dog's blood will do your moggie no good at all!

Regarding the connection with evolution, everything else about nature's physical make-up seems to be thus connected, so there's almost bound to be some such reason for blood-types, too, I'd guess.