Download Blood Webquest

Forensic Blood Analysis
Investigation 1: History of Blood Groups and Forensics
Investigation 1 takes you back in history to the scientists responsible for
grouping blood types and using that information in Forensic Science.
Part A. Read about the Nobel Prize winner Karl Landsteiner and write your
answers to the questions on your own paper.
a. What type of Nobel Prize did he win?
b. In what year is Landsteiner credited for the discovery of blood
groups?
c. Between 1901 and 1903, what did Landsteiner point out regarding
the transfusion of human blood to other humans?
d. In your opinion, why is the discovery of the ABO blood groups so
important to forensic scientists?
Part B. Forensic scientists collect blood at crime scenes everyday. How
do you think they know if the blood came from a human or an
animal? Read about the precipitin test and record your answers on your
paper.
a. Who introduced the first fluid precipitin test and in what year?
b. According to Paul Uhlenhuth, what does a precipitin look like?
Part C. With a partner, share your information for Part A, section d. Did
your partner have a different opinion than you? If so, note this on your
paper under Part C.
Discoveries by these scientists have allowed investigators to collect blood
at a crime scene, determine if it is human blood, and figure out the blood
type. In your next investigation, you will explore how blood works and its
components.
Investigation 2: Blood cells and Antibody/Antigen
Relationships
In this investigation you will explore blood cells and the differences
between blood groups.
1). Proceed to this NobelPrize website. Read "The Discovery of Blood
Groups" to review the history from the first day of this webquest. Then
complete the Investigation 2 section on your paper.
2). Section: What is Blood Made of? Draw a drop of blood and label the
parts shown. Next to each labeled part, write its function.
3). Section: What are the different blood groups? The main differences
between blood groups are due to what? Where are antigens
found? Where are antibodies found?
Forensic Blood Analysis
4). Section: ABO blood grouping system. Complete the table showing
each blood group, the antigen it has, and the antibody found in the
plasma.
5). Click on the animation Blood Groups, Blood Typing, and Blood
Donation to observe the reactions between blood types. Record the final
results shown on slide 7 of the animation by completing the table on the
Task worksheet.
Investigation 3: Blood Types and Compatibility
The ABO blood types and Rh factors are compatible in many
ways. Knowing how they interact with each other can mean life or death
when a blood transfusion is necessary. Return to the Nobelprize website to
learn how compatible the blood groups are. Complete this investigation.
1). Watch the agglutination animation under the section: Blood Typing how do you find out to which blood group someone belongs? When a
person with type A blood is given type B blood, agglutination occurs. What
does this indicate?
2). Section: What happens when blood clots or
agglutinates? Agglutination causes harm to the body. List two effects of
agglutination.
3). Section: Blood transfusions- who can receive blood from
whom? Which blood type is considered the "universal donor" and
why? Which blood type is considered the "universal recipient" and why?
Conclusion
You have finished the investigations. Please proceed for your final
assignment.
Blood evidence is often used to connect the suspect to a crime. Read about a
serial killer named Ted Bundy and how he was finally connected to many
murders across the United States. In the first excerpt "Ted Bundy-Caught
Again" you will read how Ted Bundy was finally taken into custody by
police. The second excerpt connects Ted Bundy to a vial of blood found in
August 2011.
After reading these articles, write a one page summary of how the evidence
found in the van connects Ted Bundy to his victim and how blood found dating
back to 1978 may help connect him to other crimes. Is his blood type the only
component used from the blood or can you find another type of evidence now
commonly used in criminal cases? Be sure to answer this question in your
summary.