Blood
It's in all of us (because if it wasn't we'd be dead)
Blood in Forensic Science
Analysis of the blood itself is included in serology, the study of bodily fluids, and can allow investigators to differentiate blood types, and help determine who the blood came from. For this reason, blood has been important in helping solve dozens of criminal cases.
Uses of Blood Evidence in Court
Fun Facts
- A human may loose 40% of their total blood volume before being at risk of death by exsanguination.
- blood is explicitly not blue when it is in veins. Blood is always red.
- an incredibly small amount of elemental gold exists in your body, and most of it is in your blood.
- The word "Spatter" (as in bloodstain Spatter analysis) refers to small droplets, while "Splatter" refers to the acts of splashing viscous liquids. To that end, bloodstain splatter analysis is not a thing.
Terms
Plasma: Plasma is the liquid component of blood
Antibodies: Antibodies are proteins produced by white blood cells in the blood to attack foreign bodies, specifically antigens
Antigens: In relation to blood, antigens are proteins specific to different types of blood. Antigens that interact with antibodies of a different type will cause an immune response.
Erythrocytes: More commonly known as red blood cells. these are disc shaped cells responsible for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the blood.
ABO: A system of differentiating human blood types. The presence or absence of two antigens (A and B) determine that person's blood type.
Rh:also called the Rhesus factor, the Rh is a factor of determining one's blood type. If the Rhesus protein is present in one's blood, they are said to be Rh +, whereas lacking it would make them Rh Negative.
Leukocytes: Also called white blood cells. Leukocytes are cells within the blood responsible for combating foreign bodies.
Platelets: Platelets are cell fragments and detritus that lack nuclei, and help in the clotting of blood.
Hemoglobin: An oxygen-bearing protein within the blood responsible for it's red color.
Blood Factors: Factors contributing to the agglutination and clotting of blood.
Serum: The major component of plasma, serum is what remains after the clotting process is completed