04.

03 Hemostasis, Typing, and Transfusions (30 Points)

Blood Typing –

The Type A and Type B carbohydrate molecules are called antigens because they can stimulate
the body to produce an immune response, including antibodies. Antibodies are special proteins
that travel in the blood and help our bodies to destroy viruses or bacteria that may have infected
our bodies (see figure on next page).
Adapted from Figure 40.5 in Holt Biology by Johnson and Raven

Normally, our bodies do not make antibodies against any molecules that are part of our own
bodies. Thus, antibodies help to defend against invading viruses and bacteria, but normally
antibodies do not attack our own body cells.

For example, people with Type A blood do not make antibodies against the Type A antigen which
is present on their red blood cells. However, they do make antibodies against the Type B antigen
(called anti-B antibodies).

Part 1: Test your understanding of blood groups by filling in the blanks in the chart below. (4 pts)

Blood group A
If you belong to the blood group A, you
have A antigens on the surface of your red
blood cells and ________ antibodies in your
blood.

Blood group B
If you belong to the blood group B, you
have B antigens on the surface of your red
blood cells and ________ antibodies in your
blood.

Blood group AB
If you belong to the blood group AB, you
have both A and B antigens on the surface
of your red blood cells and no anti-A or
anti-B antibodies in your blood.

Blood group O
If you belong to the blood group O, you
have neither A nor B antigens on the
surface of your red blood cells, but you
have both
________ and ________ antibodies in your blood.

Test your understanding of blood groups by completing the table below. (9 pts)

Blood Group Antigens on red Antibodies in Can receive Can give

blood cells plasma blood from blood to
A A Anti-B A and O A and AB
B B
AB A and B
O None

Part 2: Who Killed Shamari Davis?

Background Information about the Crime Scene:
Shamari Davis was a 20-year-old college freshman who was majoring in Physical Therapy. She
paid for school by working as a personal trainer at a local gym. Shamari had been promoted to
head personal trainer at the gym just before she was killed.

Crime Scene: The night janitor, Harvey Willis, found the body in the women’s locker room of the
gym at 1 am. The victim had been strangled and was wearing a robe. There were signs of a
struggle in the room and the glass door of the shower was broken and had traces of blood on it.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and the coroner suggested that the time of death
was at least 3 hours before the body was found.

Criminal Investigation: Shamari’s co-worker Daleesha Jones told police that Shamari was a newer
employee who did not deserve her recent promotion and only got it because she spent a lot of
time with their boss, Steve O’Hare. When asked if he knew if Shamari had problems at work, Steve
told Police that Shamari had complained to him that one of her fitness clients, Mike Reed, who
kept asking her out and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Blood Analysis: Obviously a real crime investigation would use many clues, but your investigation
will be based on the simplest type of blood testing, namely testing for blood types A, B, O, and AB,
for the blood sample found at the scene and for each of the possible suspects.

Time to be a detective! Shamari Davis was discovered dead in the women’s locker room. The only clue is
blood on the broken shower door. Is it hers? Is it the killer’s? Use your knowledge of blood types to fill in
the blank spaces in the chart. When the chart is complete, compare the blood types of each person to the
unknown blood sample from the broken shower door. This will tell you the most likely suspect! Hint: The
chart is showing the reaction of an antiserum (with antibodies) to the antigens on the RBCs.

Fill in the blank spaces in the chart. When the chart is complete, compare the blood samples of the
victim and each suspect to the blood sample from the broken shower door at the scene of the
crime. (8 points)
 R Reacts with Reacts with Blood type
anti-A antibody anti-B antibody (A, B, AB, O)
(Yes or No) (Yes or No)

Shamari Davis yes yes AB

Victim

Daleesha Jones A
Co-worker

Harvey Willis AB
Janitor

Mike Reed no no
Client

Steve O’Hare B
Boss

blood on shower door no yes

Investigator’s Report

Who do you believe is guilty of the murder? What evidence supports your conclusions? (4 points)

Investigators need to gather secondary evidence to prove their case. They examine the suspects
for cuts or scrapes from the crime. There were no drops of blood on the locker floor, only a trace
amount of blood on the broken glass of the door. How did hemostasis stop the bleeding and scab
the wound of the suspect before he or she left the scene of the crime? (5 points)