Red Blood Cells: carry respiratory gases, mainly oxygen and carbon dioxide.

White Blood Cells: fight disease and foreign invaders.

Platelets: aid in blood clotting and repair damaged blood vessels.

DNA Fingerprinting is used to determine identity or parentage by using forensic science to examine and test a suspect or victim's blood.

Blood typing tells both the blood type of an individual and helps to determine if blood found at a crime scene comes from only one person or from multiple people.

In 1901, Karl Landsteiner discovered A, B, and O blood types. In 1902, Decastello discovered the AB blood type.

Landsteiner is pictured below:

O-positive: 38 percent.

O-negative: 7 percent.

A-positive: 34 percent.

A-negative: 6 percent.

B-positive: 9 percent.

B-negative: 2 percent.

AB-positive: 3 percent.

AB-negative: 1 percent.

The Rh factor is a type of protein that is found on the surface of the red blood cells. Those with Rh factor are Rh-positive, and those without it are Rh-negative.

They blood types got their names from oligosaccharides (sugar) on the surface of the red blood cells. There are two types of sugar: A and B. A has A sugar. B has B sugar. AB has both. Group O has no sugar.

Below is a chart best describing the which blood type can receive or donate to other blood types.

Antibodies are proteins that attach to antigens. It is part of the immune system.

Antigen-antibody response occurs when antibodies attach to specific antigens.

Agglutination is the clumping of the red blood cells.

Blood testing is used to detect diseases or infections, determine the genealogy of an individual, or link a specific person / group of people to a crime scene. The results are determined by blood type and occasionally known diseases in the blood (hepatitis or HIV are examples).

Now you know the basics (and more!) about blood! Congratulations!