A bone marrow transplant may not be appropriate from a given donor (Jane) to a given recipient (Jane's cousin, Bob), even though Jane has previously given blood for one of Bob's needed transfusions, because ________.
A) even though Jane's blood type is a match to Bob's, her major histocompatibility (MHC) proteins may not be a match
B) a blood type match is less stringent than a match required for transplant because blood is more tolerant of change
C) for each gene, there is only one blood allele but many tissue alleles
D) Jane's MHC class II genes are not expressed in bone marrow

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A bone marrow transplant requires a more stringent match than a blood type match because the major histocompatibility (MHC) proteins must match for the transplant to be successful. Blood type is less stringent because blood cells are more tolerant of change. Each gene has multiple alleles for tissue matching, and MHC class II genes are expressed in bone marrow. Therefore, Jane's MHC proteins must match Bob's for a successful bone marrow transplant, even if her blood type is a match.

A Bone Marrow Transplant May Not Be Appropriate from a Given