Download Lab 12 - UASCJ Living Environment 2015-2016

Living Environment – Lab 12
Danta/Meeker
Name____________________
Blood Typing Lab
Introduction: In the late 1800s and early 1900s Karl Landsteiner noted that human blood, when put into
other animals would clump up (agglutinate) in other animals, resulting in death due to lack of blood
circulation. He then discovered two distinct proteins that may or may not be on the surface of an
individual’s blood cells. He named these proteins A and B such that blood cells containing only A would
be called A, blood cells only with B would be type B, and blood with both molecules were termed AB. If
neither molecule is present, the blood type is O.
These proteins turned out to be an antigen, a substance that can stimulate an immune response in
an individual. It was also noted that what antigen a person’s blood contained determined what antibodies
they make, which attacks antigens in an immune response. Blood type A has anti-B antibodies that
attacks blood type B for example. Antibodies are made by the immune system to attack foreign
substances, such that if a person with blood type A were given B blood in a transfusion, their Anti-B
antibodies would recognize these blood cells as foreign and attack them leading to agglutination and
probably death. In the case of blood type O, neither A nor B antigens are present meaning that blood type
O can be given to everyone.
Table 1: ABO Blood Types
Blood Type
A
B
AB
O
Can donate to
A, AB
B, AB
AB
AB, A, B, O
Can receive
A, O
B, O
AB, A, B, O
O
Further research discovered that when blood from a Rhesus monkey was transfused into a rabbit,
the rabbit would produce antibodies that would also attack certain human blood cells. Again it was
discovered that this was caused by antigens on the blood cells. This factor was called Rh factor, and an
individual with Rh antigens is called Rh+ (R-H-positive). This is very important because it determines
whether or not an individual will have an immune response to certain types of blood.
Determining Blood Type: Blood type can be easily determined in the lab. To do so, a sample of the blood
is placed in a special tray that contains wells labeled “A”, “B”, and “Rh”. The blood then has anti-serum
added to it. The anti-serum has antibodies in it that react against specific antigens on the surface of red
blood cells and cause agglutination. There are three types of anti-sera: Anti-A, Anti-B, and anti-Rh. Each
is added to the corresponding well. Each of the wells is then examined for agglutination allowing the
determination of blood type. If none of the samples agglutinate, the blood type is O-.
Table 2: Blood Type/Antisera Reactions
Anti-A
Anti-B
Anti-Rh
O-
O+
+
A+
-
A+
+
+
B+
-
B+
+
+
AB+
+
-
AB+
+
+
+
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Living Environment – Lab 12
Danta/Meeker
Materials:
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Blood typing trays (4)
Donor #1 simulated blood sample
Donor #2 simulated blood sample
Donor #3 simulated blood sample
Donor #4 simulated blood sample
Simulated anti-A serum
Simulated anti-B serum
Simulated anti-Rh serum
Procedure
1. Using a small piece of paper or post-it note, label each of the four blood trays as follows
“#1”, “#2”, “3”, and “4”
2. Add 3 drops of the blood labeled “Donor 1” to each of the three wells (A, B, and Rh) of
the blood typing slide labeled “#1”
3. Add 3 drops of the blood labeled “Donor 2” to each of the three wells (A, B, and Rh) of
the blood typing slide labeled “#2”
4. Add 3 drops of the blood labeled “Donor 3” to each of the three wells (A, B, and Rh) of
the blood typing slide labeled “#3”
5. Add 3 drops of the blood labeled “Donor 4” to each of the three wells (A, B, and Rh) of
the blood typing slide labeled “#4”
6. Place 3 drops of the anti-A serum in each of the wells labeled “A” on all four blood
typing trays
7. Place 3 drops of the anti-B serum in each of the wells labeled “B” on all four blood
typing trays
8. Place 3 drops of the anti-Rh serum in each of the wells labeled “Rh” on all four blood
typing trays
9. Gently rock the trays back and forth for several seconds. Be sure to rock the tray gently to
avoid spilling any of the samples into a neighboring well.
10. Observe the wells of each blood typing trays for agglutination. Record your results. Use a
“+” if you see agglutination and a “–“ if there is no reaction
11. Clean up all materials according to your instructor’s directions
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Living Environment – Lab 12
Danta/Meeker
Data Analysis
Table 1: Agglutination Reaction for Donor Blood Samples
Anti-A reaction
Anti-B reaction
Anti-Rh reaction
Donor #1
Donor #2
Donor #3
Donor #4
Table 2: Blood Type of Donor Blood Samples
Blood Type
Donor #1
Donor #2
Donor #3
Donor #4
Questions
1. Based on your results, what antigens do you think Donor #2 has on their red blood cells?
Why?
2. What do you think would happen if you mixed the blood from Donor #1 with that of Donor
#2? Explain your answer
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Living Environment – Lab 12
Danta/Meeker
3. How could blood typing be used as a way to solve crimes where DNA and blood are left
behind? Compare and contrast this to using gel electrophoresis as a DNA test, and determine the
pros and cons of each technique.
4. Besides blood type incompatibility, what other precautions do you think must be taken prior to
the transfusion of blood?
5. Due to the codominance of the A and B blood types, it is possible for a mother to have a
different blood type than her offspring. This can be an issue while delivering her child, especially
after her first one. Why is this so?
Write your conclusion in your own words
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