Part I: How does blood typing work?
Background Information
Antigens are molecules that are located on the surface of the red
blood cells (RBCs) as well as pathogens like viruses & bacteria.
Antibodies are molecules produced by our immune system that are
located in the blood plasma. They react to foreign antigens, so they
react to viruses & bacteria, as well as blood cells that are not
recognized as ‘self’.
Individuals have different types and combinations of these molecules. The figure below shows
which antigens and antibodies are associated with each blood type in the ABO blood group:
A single gene that has three different versions (or alleles) determines the four blood types in
the ABO group.
Allele A codes for the synthesis of RBCs that have the type A antigens on their surface.
Allele B codes for the synthesis of RBCs that have the type B antigens on their surface
Allele O codes for RBCs that lack surface antigens.
The A and B alleles are codominant to each other, and both the A and B alleles are
dominant over the O allele.
Although there are three different alleles associated with the ABO blood group gene,
each individual only inherits two copies of it -- you only have 2 copies of any gene, since one copy
of the gene comes from the mother and one copy of the gene comes from the father. The ABO
blood type therefore follows the multiple allele model of inheritance. Note that individuals with
the A allele and the O allele are phenotypically identical to those with two copies of the A allele
(the same goes for B). Only individuals with 2 copies of the O allele have O-type blood. The
image below will help show you how blood types are inherited.
Although blood type is an inherited trait, the legal systems do not recognize ABO blood typing as
an acceptable way to determine paternity (who the father is) because many individuals can have
the same blood type. In Canada, for example, approximately 46% of the population has type O
blood, 40% has type A blood, 9% has type B blood, and 5% has type AB blood. ABO blood-
typing, however, can be used to exclude a man from being a child’s father. Therefore, it is
sometimes useful to conduct a quick and inexpensive test for ABO blood type to determine if
further testing using a DNA analysis is warranted (DNA testing is more expensive and takes
much longer, but can be used to confirm paternity).
Question:
How do you perform tests to determine blood type?
Materials
Type A, B, AB and O blood sample
Anti-A serum Anti-B serum
Well plates
Safety Precautions
1. Safety goggles, gloves, and aprons are required for this lab.
2. Under no circumstances is human or animal blood to be used or tested. Only use
commercially prepared simulated blood products
3. Wash hands with soap and water after completing the lab.
Procedure
1. Add two drops of a blood sample to well A and to well B of a blood-typing slide.
2. Add two drops of the appropriate antiserum to each of the samples.
3. Stir each sample for 20 seconds.
Examine the contents of the well plates. Record your results.
Note: If antibodies ‘swarm’ the blood cells, this is because the antibodies react to the surface
antigens:
Prediction
What results do you expect when you put the different solutions together. Record your results in
the table below.
Table 1. Prediction of the result for the reaction of different blood types with antiserum.
A B AB O
Anti-A
Anti-B
Results
Table 2. Actual result for the reaction of different blood types with antiserum.
A B AB O
Anti-A
Anti-B
