BBC Learnings · Section 7

What's the point of blood types

Sam, what blood type are you? Ah, you mean the different groups used to classify humans

Level: C1 · 101 sentences

Transcript

  1. Sam, what blood type are you?
  2. Ah, you mean the different groups used to classify humans
  3. by blood? Types A, B, AB and O?
  4. I think I'm type O. How about you, Neil?
  5. Well, it may sound strange, but actually I don't know.
  6. Yeah, lots of Westerners don't know their blood type,
  7. but in parts of Asia, blood groups
  8. are a topic of daily conversation.
  9. People select romantic partners based on blood type,
  10. and different blood groups are associated with different personalities.
  11. In this programme, we'll be finding out all about blood,
  12. why humans have different blood types,
  13. and whether blood is something more than just a way
  14. of pumping oxygen around your body.
  15. And of course, we'll be learning some new vocabulary as well.
  16. Now, Neil, I have an interesting fact for you.
  17. Did you know that many Japanese pop
  18. stars' websites will feature their blood type
  19. alongside information like their age and hobbies?
  20. I didn't, Sam, but Japanese culture is certainly interested in blood.
  21. There's even a word, buruhara, meaning blood...
  22. harassment, which is used to describe hostility towards people
  23. from a certain blood group considered to be selfish.
  24. But which group?
  25. That's my quiz question for today.
  26. Which blood types may fall victim to buluhara?
  27. Is it A blood type A, B blood type
  28. B, or C blood type O?
  29. I'll say A, blood type A.
  30. OK, Sam, we'll find out the answer later.
  31. Now, as we've heard, blood is a big deal in Japan.
  32. Marnie Chesterton from BBC World Service programme CrowdScience travelled to Tokyo,
  33. where she asked Japanese translator Chia Kobayashi to explain more.
  34. For blood type A, generally it is thought they are perfectionists, more detail-oriented.
  35. pretty much good at precise type of job,
  36. and that makes them good at helping others
  37. and good at teamwork and respect rules and customs.
  38. That's a typical blood A type.
  39. 40% of Japan's population are sensitive, anxious type A's.
  40. 30% are curious and stubborn, generous type O's.
  41. 10% are creative AB's, but woe betide the 20% type B.
  42. because they have a far less desirable personality, apparently.
  43. According to Japanese tradition, blood type A's are perfectionists –
  44. people who want everything to be perfect
  45. and demand the highest standards possible.
  46. This contrasts with type O's who are considered to be stubborn –
  47. people who are determined to do what they
  48. want and refuse to change their mind.
  49. But it's unfortunate blood type B's who have the least desirable personality.
  50. Selfish and independent.
  51. Woe betide the type Bs, remarks the presenter, Marnie Chesterton.
  52. An informal British expression
  53. said when there will be trouble ahead for someone.
  54. In this case, poor type Bs!
  55. But apart from customs and traditions,
  56. is there actually any science behind these beliefs?
  57. Well, not according to Dr Emma Pomeroy of Cambridge University's Archaeology Department.
  58. She thinks that, like horoscopes, there's no scientific basis
  59. for a connection between blood types and personalities.
  60. Which makes me wonder what exactly blood types are.
  61. Blood types are kinds of stickers, or chemical markers,
  62. which support our immune system – the organs,
  63. cells and processes which protect the human body from infection and illness.
  64. Those chemical markers can identify foreign bodies, like pathogens.
  65. small organisms such as a virus
  66. or bacteria that can cause disease.
  67. The variety of blood types seems to be a result
  68. of different bodily responses to different disease-causing pathogens.
  69. Which explains why blood of the same type is needed in blood transfusions,
  70. medical procedures in which blood is taken from one person
  71. and put into another person's body,
  72. often after an accident or during an operation.
  73. and explains the high demand for type O blood
  74. which can be given to anyone.
  75. Generous type O's!
  76. Like me! I always knew I was special and curious and stubborn.
  77. Wasn't that the type O personality?
  78. Yes. Today's quiz question was about blood type personalities.
  79. I asked you which undesirable blood type is considered selfish in Japan.
  80. And I said A – blood type A.
  81. But as we've heard, it's actually
  82. B, blood type B. Never mind.
  83. I'll settle for being curious, stubborn and generous.
  84. In today's programme, we've been talking
  85. all about blood types and personalities.
  86. In Japan, blood type A people are thought of as perfectionists,
  87. people who want everything to be perfect.
  88. Unlike type O's who are considered stubborn –
  89. determined to get their own way and unwilling to change.
  90. And woe betide selfish type B's –
  91. an informal expression said when there will be trouble for someone,
  92. or if they will be punished for doing a particular thing.
  93. Scientifically speaking, blood types help support our immune system –
  94. the organs and cellular processes which protect the human body from infection.
  95. They also help identify foreign pathogens –
  96. small organisms such as a virus
  97. or bacteria that can cause a disease.
  98. And explain why the same blood type
  99. is needed for a successful blood transfusion.
  100. That's the procedure in which blood is transferred
  101. from one person's body to another during an operation.