How did the discovery of the thesus factor affect society? More patients died from having a transfusion with the wrong rhesus factor. Less donated blood could be used in the treatment of patients. The number of blood types was reduced by half.

The discovery of the Rh (Rhesus) factor, which is a specific protein that can be present on the surface of red blood cells, had significant implications for blood transfusions and overall medical practices. Let's analyze the options provided: 1. **More patients died from having a transfusion with the wrong rhesus factor.** This statement is true. The Rh factor is crucial in blood transfusions. If a patient receives blood with an incompatible Rh factor, it can lead to severe immune reactions, which can be fatal. This discovery highlighted the importance of matching blood types correctly, thereby increasing awareness and protocols around blood transfusions. 2. **Less donated blood could be used in the treatment of patients.** This statement can also be considered true. The discovery of the Rh factor necessitated more stringent testing and matching of blood types, which could limit the pool of available blood for transfusions. If blood types are not matched correctly, it cannot be used, leading to a potential shortage in usable blood for patients in need. 3. **The number of blood types was reduced by half.** This statement is false. The discovery of the Rh factor did not reduce the number of blood types; rather, it added complexity to the existing blood type classification system. Blood types are classified based on the ABO system and the Rh factor, leading to a total of eight main blood types (A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+, O-). In summary, the discovery of the Rh factor significantly impacted society by increasing the safety of blood transfusions, leading to more stringent blood type matching, and ultimately saving lives, but it also introduced challenges in blood donation and availability.