Carbohydrate groups on the surfaces of erythrocytes determine blood type and are known as

Carbohydrate groups on the surfaces of erythrocytes determine blood type and are known as antigens. One of the major roles of carbohydrates is their role in cell to cell recognition. Because of all their possible structural variation, carbohydrates allow specific recognition between cells using relative small molecules. An example being the cell to cell recognition mediated by carbohydrates in the ABO blood type system.