Name: Brynn Nelson

Crime Scene: #2
Evidence being examined:
Forensic science used: Blood typing
Summary of the science:
Blood types are the different kinds of blood that people possess the possibility of having. Blood
typing is the science of differing these types from each other. The two most significant blood group
systems were discovered by Karl Landstiener during early experiments with blood transfusion in
1901and in co-operation with Alexander Wiener of the Rhesus group in 1937. Development of the
Coombs test in 1945, the advent of transfusion medicine led to discovery of more blood groups, and
now 33 blood group systems are recognized and across the 33 blood groups, over 600 different blood
group antigens have been found. Many of these are very rare or are mainly found in certain ethnic
groups. Blood types have been used in forensic science and were formerly used to demonstrate
impossibility of paternity, but both of these uses are being replaced by genetic fingerprinting which
provides greater certainty.
A complete blood type would describe a full set of 30 substances on the surface of RBCs, and an
individual's blood type is one of many possible combinations of blood-group antigens. Across the 33
blood groups, over 600 different blood-group antigens have been found, but many of these are very
rare, some being found mainly in certain ethnic groups. Almost always, an individual has the same blood
group for life, but very rarely an individual's blood type changes through addition or suppression of an
antigen in infection or illnesses, another more common cause in blood type change is a bone marrow
Bone-marrow transplants are performed for many forms of leukemia, among other diseases.
The test to determine your blood group is called ABO typing. Your blood sample is mixed with
antibodies against type A and B blood, and the sample is checked to see whether or not the blood cells
stick together. If blood cells stick together, it means the blood reacted with one of the antibodies. The
second step is called back typing. The liquid part of your blood without cells (serum) is mixed with blood
that is known to be type A and type B. Persons with type A blood have anti-B antibodies, and those with
type B blood have anti-A antibodies. Type O blood contains both types of antibodies. These two steps
can accurately determine your blood type. Blood typing is also done to tell whether or not you have a
substance called Rh factor on the surface of your red blood cells. If you have this substance, you are
considered Rh+. Those without it are considered Rh-. Rh typing uses a method similar to ABO typing.
Antigens categorized as being Type A are found in an individual's red blood cells whilst the same
equation can be applied to someone of Type B blood grouping. Also within the blood typing system
there are Rhesus antigens, which can be categorized as Type D; should an individual's red blood cells
have these Rhesus antigens they are classed as RH Positive and likewise if they do not appear they are
classified as RH negative. Parents may have different blood from their children and indeed siblings may
also have different blood groups but through the use of DNA fingerprinting it is possible to draw up
certain characteristics that are shared between the father and mother and their offspring; this is called
Mitochondrial DNA and can be found all the way through a family's bloodline over many generations.

These blood types although used as a means of collating DNA evidence can be used more as a means of
identification that an admission of guilt. As the discovery of a blood type through the use of a sample is
useful it is not an exact enough science to prove that an individual has been the perpetrator of a crime
on its own.
With regard to transfusions of packed red blood cells, individuals with type O Rh D negative
blood are often called universal donors, and those with type AB Rh D positive blood are called universal
recipients; however, these terms are only generally true with respect to possible reactions of the
recipient's anti-A and anti-B antibodies to transfused red blood cells, and also possible sensitization to
Rh D antigens. One exception is individuals with hh antigen system (also known as the Bombay
phenotype) who can only receive blood safely from other hh donors, because they form antibodies
against the H antigen present on all red blood cells.
Based on the information we analyzed today, WE can determine that the knife at the crime
scene had a finger print on it that belonged to James Newel. Also, the blood underneath the victim
Nathan Herrons fingernails was Newels as well.
http://www.healthline.com/health/blood-typing-and-crossmatching#Overview1 Accessed Oct 7
https://sites.google.com/site/abobloodgroup/home accessed Oct 7
http://www.bloodbook.com/world-abo.html accessed Oct 7