How much blood is in the human About 5 liters body?
Why is blood red? Blood is red because it contains hemoglobin, an iron rich pigment.
What makes up our blood? 7-8% of human body weight is from blood. This essential fluid carries out the critical functions of: transporting oxygen and nutrients to our cells, getting rid of carbon dioxide & ammonia, transporting other waste products. In addition, it plays a vital role in our immune system and in maintaining a relatively constant body temperature.
Blood is a highly specialized tissue composed of more than 4,000 different kinds of components. Four of the most important ones are red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, plasma. All humans produce these blood components.
Red Blood Cells Proper name: Erythrocytes. The most abundant cells in our blood. Produced in the bone marrow. Contain a protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen to our cells.
Shaped like round plates indented in the center. Have no nucleus, so they carry no DNA. Erythrocytes
White Blood Cells Proper Name: Leukocytes. They are part of the immune system and destroy infectious agents called pathogens.
Leukocytes Fight infections. Large in size. Have a nucleus, so they DO carry DNA.
Plasma This is the yellowish liquid portion of blood. Contains: electrolytes, nutrients and vitamins, hormones, clotting factors, proteins such as antibodies to fight infection.
Plasma Straw colored, nonliving part of blood. 90% Water. Helps to regulate body temperature. Transports blood cells, products of digestion and hormones throughout the body.
PLATELETS (Thrombocytes) The clotting factors that are carried in the plasma; they clot together in a process called coagulation to seal a wound and prevent a loss of blood.
Platelets Proper Name: Thrombocytes. Smallest part of blood. No nucleus (so, no DNA). Live 2-4 days. Involved in clotting of blood.
Blood Facts: There are about one billion red blood cells in two to three drops of blood. For every 600 red blood cells, there are about 40 platelets and one white cell.
The blood of different species looks different under the microscope: Bird Blood Fish Blood Horse Blood Cat Blood Frog Blood Dog Blood Human Blood Snake Blood
What is it in your blood that creates your blood type? The genes that determine your blood type cause one or more types of proteins, called AGGLUTINOGENS, to exist on the surface of all of your cells (including your RBCs).
ABO Blood Groups There are 3 alleles for the gene that create these agglutinogens: A, B, & O. Since we have 2 genes, there are 6 possible combinations. Blood Types AA or AO = Type A BB or BO = Type B OO = Type O AB = Type AB
How common is each blood type? 46.1% 38.8% 11.1% 3.9%
Antibodies vs Agglutinogens Type A blood cells carry the A agglutinogen, which is what determines a person s blood typ. However, each type of blood also carries small proteins, called antibodies or aglutagens, for the opposite type of blood. So, Type A blood carries the antibody against Type B blood.
Rh Factor Scientists sometimes study Rhesus monkeys because there are certain similarities between the two species. While studying Rhesus monkeys, a new blood protein was discovered. This protein is also present in the blood of some people. The presence of the protein is referred to as the Rh (for Rhesus) factor. If your blood does contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh positive (Rh+). If your blood does not contain the protein, your blood is said to be Rh negative (Rh-). A+ A- B+ B- AB+ AB- O+ O-
The type of agglutinogen and antibodies you have determines the blood you can be transfused with. A blood transfusion is a procedure in which blood is given to a patient through an intravenous line into one of the blood vessels. Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or a serious injury or illness. People with TYPE O blood are called Universal Donors, because they can give blood to any blood type. People with TYPE AB blood are called Universal Recipients, because they can receive any blood type. Rh + Can receive + or -. Rh - Can only receive -. Universal Donor Universal Recipient
Precipitin Test A test performed by mixing the antibodies of each type of blood (A, B and Rh) with a sample of blood to determine its type. A positive reaction is determined by agglutination (clumping) of the blood.
Blood Types and Genetics Your blood type is established before you are BORN, by specific GENES inherited from your parents. You inherit one gene from your MOTHER and one from your FATHER. In humans, your blood type is determined by the ABO blood groups.
How genes control blood type: The gene inherited from your mother determines HALF of your blood type. The one inherited from your father determines the other half. A, B and O are all considered dominant genes.
Heterozygous = Different Genes Heterozygous type A = AO Heterozygous Rh positive = +- Homozygous = Same genes Homozygous type A = AA Homozygous Rh positive = ++ Homozygous Rh negative = -- Type O has to be homozygous = OO Type AB has to be heterozygous = AB
In this example: Mother is heterozygous for type A, and heterozygous for Rh factor. Father is heterozygous for type B, and homozygous recessive for no Rh factor.
Blood as Evidence Blood samples Can be analyzed to determine blood type and DNA, which can be matched to possible suspects. Blood droplets Can be analyzed to give clues to the location of a crime, movement of a victim, and type of weapon. Blood spatter Can be analyzed to determine patterns that give investigators clues to how a crime might have happened.