HLA antigens trigger reactions against organ transplants - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 22 - 2009 - Paper 1
Question 22
HLA antigens trigger reactions against organ transplants. These antigens must be matched as closely as possible if a transplant is to succeed.
A young man required ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:HLA antigens trigger reactions against organ transplants - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 22 - 2009 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify HLA Antigens
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Answer
First, we need to compare the HLA antigens of the potential donors with those of the young man requiring the transplant. The young man has the antigens A4 B6 C7 DP11.
Step 2
Compare with Mother’s Antigens
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The mother’s antigens are A4 B6 C7 DP11, which match exactly with the young man’s antigens. This indicates a strong compatibility.
Step 3
Compare with Father’s Antigens
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The father’s antigens are A1 B7 C3 DP12. There is no match with the young man’s antigens, indicating incompatibility.
Step 4
Compare with Older Brother’s Antigens
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The older brother’s antigens are A7 B19 C3 DP11. The D and B loci do not match, signifying incompatibility.
Step 5
Compare with Next-Door Neighbour’s Antigens
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The next-door neighbour’s antigens are A4 B7 C3 DP11. While A4 matches, the other antigens do not fully align, suggesting partial compatibility.
Step 6
Conclusion
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Based on the closest match, the individual most likely to be used as a donor is the young man’s mother, making option D (next-door neighbour) the least likely choice.
