Blood
By: Zakaria Alabudi
Vocabulary
Serology: The study of blood and its antibodies.
Plasma: The state of blood when its cells are suspended.
Antibodies: Produced by B-cells to destroy foreign entities such as antigens, viruses, and bacteria
Antigens: A foreign substance that stimulates the production of antibodies.
Erythrocytes: A cell that can carry oxygen throughout the body and contains hemoglobin.
A.B.O: A blood typing system including “A”, “AB”, “B”, and “O”
Rh: A protein that can be present on the surface of red blood cells.
Leukocytes: A white blood cell that circulates in the blood and bodily fluids, and is also involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease.
Platelets: Found with the blood cells and assist with clotting.
Hemoglobin: A protein found in red blood cells and helps transport oxygen.
Blood Factors: A specific combination of antigens, enzymes and proteins in the blood.
Serum: A liquid that separates from clotted blood.
Why is blood useful in forensics?
Why is it important?
It can eliminate people as a potential suspect for a crime
It can help lead detectives in the right direction to solving a case.
It can link a group of people to a criminal act
It can absolutely be linked to an individual, just like a fingerprint can be.
If it is collected, documented, and stored suitably, it can be presented to a judge or jury several years after the criminal act.
Famous Case
Fun Facts
Blood makes up about 7% of the weight in a human body.
Blood plasma is made up of 90% water.
A red blood cell can make a complete circuit of your body in 30 seconds.
In emergencies, coconut water can be used as a substitute for blood plasma.
A pregnant woman has about 50% more blood by week 2o of her pregnancy than she did before she conceived.
There is 0.02 milligrams of gold in the human body, and most of that is in the blood.
Your blood type can increase memory problems.