Blood types, what they mean to you, and what they can tell you. Bloody Good Time Blood types, what they mean to you, and what they can tell you.

What makes up our blood? RED BLOOD CELLS (Erythrocytes) – The most abundant cells in our blood; they are produced in the bone marrow and contain a protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen to our cells. WHITE BLOOD CELLS (Leukocytes) – They are part of the immune system and destroy infectious agents called pathogens. PLASMA – This is the yellowish liquid portion of blood that contains electrolytes, nutrients and vitamins, hormones, clotting factors, and proteins such as antibodies to fight infection. PLATELETS (Thrombocytes) – The clotting factors that are carried in the plasma; they clot together in a process called coagulation to seal a wound and prevent a loss of blood.

Blood Facts The average adult has about FIVE liters of blood inside of their body, which makes up 7-8% of their body weight. Blood is living tissue that carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, and carries carbon dioxide and other waste products back to the lungs, kidneys and liver for disposal. It also fights against infection and helps heal wounds, so we can stay healthy. There are about one billion red blood cells in two to three drops of blood. For every 600 red blood cells, there are about 40 platelets and one white cell. http://www.bloodbankofalaska.org/about_blood/index.html

Genetics of Blood Types Your blood type is established before you are BORN, by specific GENES inherited from your parents. You inherit one gene from your MOTHER and one from your FATHER. These genes determine your blood type by causing proteins called ANTIGENS (AGGLUTINOGENS) to exist on the surface of all of your red blood cells.

What are blood types? Although all blood is made of the same basic elements, not all blood is alike. In fact, there are eight different common blood types, which are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens – substances that can trigger an immune response if they are foreign to the body. Since some antigens can trigger a patient's immune system to attack the transfused blood, safe blood transfusions depend on careful blood typing and cross-matching.

What are blood types? There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens – A and B – on the surface of red blood cells: A – has only the A antigen on red cells (and B antibody in the plasma) B – has only the B antigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma) AB – has both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibody in the plasma) O – has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibody are in the plasma)

What are blood types? There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of two antigens – A and B – on the surface of red blood cells: A – has only the A antigen on red cells (and B antibody in the plasma) B – has only the B antigen on red cells (and A antibody in the plasma) AB – has both A and B antigens on red cells (but neither A nor B antibody in the plasma) O – has neither A nor B antigens on red cells (but both A and B antibody are in the plasma)

How is my blood type “picked”? It’s inherited. Like eye color, blood type is passed genetically from your parents. Whether your blood group is type A, B, AB or O is based on the blood types of your mother and father. The A and B antigen molecules on the surface of red blood cells are made by two different enzymes. These two enzymes are encoded by different versions, or alleles, of the same gene.

How is my blood type “picked”? The A allele codes for an enzyme that makes the A antigen, and the B allele codes for an enzyme that makes the B antigen. A third version of this gene, the O allele, codes for a protein that is not functional; it makes no surface molecules at all. Everyone inherits two alleles of the gene, one from each parent. The combination of your two alleles determines your blood type.

How is my blood type “picked”? GENOTYPE = PHENOTYPE =

How is my blood type “picked”? GENOTYPE = The two copies of genes (alleles) that you have. PHENOTYPE = What you actually “see”.

How is my blood type “picked”? GENOTYPE = The two copies of genes (alleles) that you have. 1 from mom 1 from dad PHENOTYPE = What you actually “see”. Sometimes what you see depends on the organism’s (bacteria, plant, animal) environment!

How is my blood type “picked”? Which is the Genotype and which is the Phenotype?

What are blood types?

What are blood types?

What are blood types?

AA or AO = Type A BB or BO = Type B OO = Type O AB = Type AB What are blood types? There are 3 alleles or genes for blood type: A, B, & O. Since we have 2 genes, there are 6 possible combinations. Blood Types AA or AO = Type A BB or BO = Type B OO = Type O AB = Type AB http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/blood/types.cfm

How common is your blood type? O positive is the most common blood type. Not all ethnic groups have the same mix of these blood types. Hispanic people, for example, have a relatively high number of O’s, while Asian people have a relatively high number of B’s.

How common is your blood type?

How common is your blood type?

Blood Transfusions O A B AB A blood transfusion is a procedure in which blood is given to a patient through an intravenous (IV) line in one of the blood vessels. Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or a serious injury. A transfusion also may be done if a person’s body can't make blood properly because of an illness. Who can give you blood? People with TYPE O blood are called Universal Donors, because they can give blood to any blood type. People with TYPE AB blood are called Universal Recipients, because they can receive any blood type. Rh +  Can receive + or - Rh -  Can only receive - A B O AB Universal Donor Universal Recipient

Rh Factors? I’ve talked a little about it and if you’ve been paying attention some of the slides mention +’s and –’s.

Rh Factors A+ A- B+ B- AB+ AB- O+ O- Scientists sometimes study Rhesus monkeys to learn more about the human anatomy because there are certain similarities between the two species. While studying Rhesus monkeys, a certain blood protein was discovered. This protein is also present in the blood of some people. Other people, however, do not have the protein. The presence of the protein, or lack of it, is referred to as the Rh (for Rhesus) factor. If your blood does contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh positive (Rh+). If your blood does not contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh negative (Rh-). A+ A- B+ B- AB+ AB- O+ O- http://www.fi.edu/biosci/blood/rh.html

Why does Rh factor matter? Giving birth to babies is messy work. Sometimes skin is ripped or torn and the baby’s blood and the mother’s blood is able to mix a little bit. If a mother is Rh-, and the baby is Rh+, the mother usually will make antibodies against the Rh factor. The next time she becomes pregnant, if the next baby is Rh+, the mother’s Rh ANTIBODIES can travel through her bloodstream, through the placenta, and into the baby’s bloodstream. If this happens the baby usually dies.

Why does Rh factor matter? Nowadays, women typically have their blood typed the first time they become pregnant. If she is Rh negative, the mother receives an injection at 28 weeks gestation (pregnancy) and at birth to avoid the development of antibodies toward future fetuses (babies). In the past, the child often died. The technical term is hemolytic erythroblastosis fetalis. They are mostly Greek words. Hemolytic comes from two words: "hemo" (blood) and "lysis" (destruction) or breaking down of red blood cells Erythroblastosis refers to the making of immature red blood cells Fetalis refers to the fetus. (This is Latin.)

Blood Transfusions O A B AB A blood transfusion is a procedure in which blood is given to a patient through an intravenous (IV) line in one of the blood vessels. Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or a serious injury. A transfusion also may be done if a person’s body can't make blood properly because of an illness. Who can give you blood? People with TYPE O blood are called Universal Donors, because they can give blood to any blood type. People with TYPE AB blood are called Universal Recipients, because they can receive any blood type. Rh +  Can receive + or - Rh -  Can only receive - A B O AB Universal Donor Universal Recipient

Blood Transfusions A blood transfusion is a procedure in which blood is given to a patient through an intravenous (IV) line in one of the blood vessels. Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or a serious injury. A transfusion also may be done if a person’s body can't make blood properly because of an illness. Who can give you blood? People with TYPE O- blood are called Universal Donors, because they can give blood to any blood type. People with TYPE AB+ blood are called Universal Recipients, because they can receive any blood type. Rh +  Can receive + or - Rh -  Can only receive -

Microscopic Views Bird Blood Fish Blood Horse Blood Cat Blood Dog Blood Fish Blood Frog Blood Snake Blood Microscopic Views Human Blood Horse Blood

In Summary Distinct molecules called antigens are attached to the surface of red blood cells. There are two different types of antigens, type "A" and type "B". Each type has different properties. The ABO blood type classification system uses the presence or absence of these molecules to categorize blood into four (really 8) types.

In Summary O- is the universal donor. AB+ is the universal receiver. Another level of specificity is added to blood type by examining the presence or absence of the Rh protein. Each blood type is either positive "+" (has the Rh protein) or negative "-" (no Rh protein). For example, a person whose blood type is "A positive" (A +), has both type A and Rh proteins on the surface of their red blood cells. O- is the universal donor. AB+ is the universal receiver.

In Lab…

In Lab… You will poke yourself with a lancet. You will put 4 drops of blood on your kit (one in each circle) and smear it with a clean stick each time. You will wait to see if your blood reacts with the card. The test card has antibodies on it. If it reacts with your blood you have that antigen. Antibody A reacts with Antigen A on your RBC. Antibody B reacts with Antigen A on your RBC. Antibody D reacts with Rh Antigen on your RBC. The control has no antibodies. It is there to show that your blood is not just reacting with the card.

In Lab… Remember!

In Lab…

In Lab…

In Lab…

In Lab…

References http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/inheritance/blood/ http://sciencespot.net/ http://canadiancrc.com/Paternity_determination_blood_type.aspx http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-types http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8f3d/images/2017/