Patterns of Inheritance

Lab: How is a person’s blood group determined?

Name: Class: Date: Score:

BACKGROUND:
Blood is classified according to the presence or absence of certain antigens, or factors, which are
attached to the surface of the erythrocytes. These antigens are called A and B. A person whose
erythrocytes have A antigen has group A blood, and one whose erythrocytes have B antigen has group B
blood. Persons with both A and B antigens have group AB blood, and those with no antigens have O
blood. Rh is another antigen. It was found in Rhesus monkey so Rh mark is given. If a person has Rh
antigen, his/her blood group is Rh (+), if not, it is Rh (-).
The plasma of each blood group contains a certain type of antibodies. Blood group A plasma contains
anti-B antibodies, and blood group B plasma has anti-A antibodies. The antibodies of each group attack
the erythrocytes of the other group, causing the cells to agglutinate, or clump together. Group AB plasma
has both A and B antigens and therefore has neither type of antibody. Group O blood contains both anti-A
and anti-B antibodies. Rh (+) person has no antibody whereas Rh (-) person has anti-Rh.

OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this investigation, you will be able to
● Determine how blood is grouped.
MATERIALS: (per group)
- 1 Petri dish
- Lancet
- Anti - A serum
- Anti – B serum
- Anti – D serum
- Toothpick

PROCEDURE:

1. Use the glass marking pencil. Label three locations A, B and Rh on the plate.
2. Put one drop of anti –A serum in a circle of the dish, one drop of anti –B serum in circle B, and
one drop of anti – D in circle Rh. Place the dish on a paper towel.
3. Moisten sterile cotton with alcohol. Use the cotton to rub the tip of the ring finger.
CAUTION: Do not use the same lancet more than once or for more than one.
 4. Using the lancet, quickly pierce the sterilized area of the finger.
5. Wipe away the first drop of blood. Allow a second drop of blood to fall under region A, another to
region B and another to region Rh. NOTE: Do not allow your finger to touch the typing serum. Wipe
the pierced finger with another piece of sterile cotton that has been moistened with alcohol.
6. Using the toothpick, carefully mix the blood drops with serums. Use different toothpicks for each
drop.
7. After 2 minutes, examine each circle for the presence or absence of agglutination. Determine your
blood group by comparing your results with below table.

Anti – A Anti – B Blood group

A
Agglutination occurs with anti – A serum
only

Agglutination occurs with anti – B serum

onlyB

Agglutination occurs with both anti –A and

anti –B serumAB

No agglutination occurs
O

Agglutination with anti – D serum

Anti – D Blood group Rh

No agglutination occurs with

(+) Rh (-)
anti – D serum

CONCLUSION:
1. a. Which blood group(s) show clumping in anti – A serum? (1p)
Blood group A and AB

b. Which blood group(s) show clumping in anti – B serum? (1p)

Blood group B and AB

2. a.If clumping occurs in anti –A, anti – B and anti – D serum, what is the blood group?(1p)

AB Rh+

b. If neither serum shows clumping, what is the blood group?(1p)

O Rh negative
3. In the lab video, what are the results in the mixture containing anti – A? In the mixture containing
anti – B serum? In the mixture containing anti – D serum? (1p)

The mixtures that contain anti-A and anti-B did not agglutinate thus the mixtures which contained
nti-D did agglutinate.

4. What is the blood group in your experiment? (1p)

O Rh+

5. What antigens are found on the surface of her erythrocytes? Explain. (2p)

Her blood groups is O Rh+ meaning that she does not contain any antigens on the surface of her
erythrocytes

6. What antibodies are found in her blood plasma? Explain. (2p)

Due to her blood group she contains both anti-A and anti-B antibodies thus due to her Rh being
positive she does not have any Rh antibodies