What would a post-blood transfusion DNA test show?
I tried Google with “blood transfusion DNA” Second result was this …But as far as blood transfusions confering the genetic identity of the donor to the recipient, it is not possible. Blood has three components, reb blood cells, white blood cells, and the fluid they are in called plasma. Simple blood transfusions deliver only red blood cells and plasma. The only job of a red blood cell is to delivery oxygen to all the tissues of the body. Transfusions are given to replace lost blood and plasma during surgery or some trauma so that the body can still deliver enough oxygen to the tissues. What is important about this is that red blood cells contain no nucleus, and therefore no individual genetic material. Why not give the white blood cells as well? White blood cells have too many…
There was also a CSI episode called Bloodlines, but rather than a transfusion, the guy had something called Blaschko’s lines or chimerism – he was made of two embryos that had sort of absorbed into each other, so his saliva had a different DNA than his semen.
To echo vacapinta’s posting – a normal blood transfusion is of red blood cells only, which have no DNA. In fact, one approach (being researched) to reducing (eliminating) the problems of otherwise unacceptable donated blood (HIV, viruses, etc.) is to remove all DNA and RNA, something that would leave red blood cells as they are.
