Using Blood Tests to Identify Babies and Criminals
In the lab, Using Blood Tests to Identify Babies and Criminals, students learn the genetics and immunobiology of the ABO blood type system, using simple chemicals and logical reasoning to solve a murder mystery and to determine whether two babies were switched in the hospital.
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We invite comments on this Hands-On Activity and the accompanying Teacher Preparation Notes, including suggestions for other teachers who are planning to use the activity, useful preparatory or follow-up activities, additional resources or any questions you have related to the activity, or a brief description of any problem you might have encountered. If you have a relevant Word document you would like to have posted on this comments page, such as a version of the protocol you have used in your classroom, or if you would prefer to send your comments or questions in a private message, please write Ingrid Waldron at iwaldron@sas.upenn.edu.
See also a complete list of activities:
Hands-on Activities for Teaching Biology to High School and Middle School Students
A and B antigens actually are carbohydrate molecules
Although the misconception that the A and B antigens are proteins is widespread, it is now well established that this is not true. "The gene that determines ABO ... encodes an enzyme that adds sugar molecules to lipids on the surface of red blood cells. ... The gene that encodes the enzyme, designated I, has three common alleles: IB whose product adds a lactose; IA whose product adds galactoseamine; and i which codes for a protein that does not add a sugar.... If a type A individual receives a transfusion of type B blood, the recipient's immune system recognizes that the type B blood cells possess a "foreign" antigen (galactose) and attacks that donated blood cells, causing them to clump, or agglutinate." (quoted from Raven et al., Biology, seventh edition, page 260). Additional supporting information can be found in immunology textbooks.
I would use this blood type
I would use this blood type activity except that the person who typed out the the directions has written that the A and B antigens are "carbohydrate molecules" on the surface of teh RBC. The A and B antigens are PROTEINS.
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