The Case of the Stolen Serum

Sunday, 07. January 2007

Developed by Mr. Westerling

bwesterling@gasd.org

Overview | Introduction | Background | Case | Process  | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Overview

	This activity allows you to learn the importance of understanding blood-typing
	This activity allows you to investigate a crime scene case study based on methods used in forensic science. You will show how blood-typing can be used to identify and rule out potential suspects in a criminal investigation.
	You will have an opportunity to practice what you have learned with an online emergency room activity using your blood-typing knowledge
	This activity is intended for Seventh Grade Health students
	You need to be able to print the worksheets provided to complete the task.
	NYS Health Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment.
	NYS Health Standard 2: Performance Indicator Students assess potentially dangerous situations and demonstrate the skills to avoid or reduce their risks.

Overview | Introduction | Background | Case | Process  | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

    You will begin to understand how medical and law professions use blood-typing in daily activities. Both medical and law enforcement agencies use this technique to help them do their jobs. The medical field uses the technique to provide blood transfusions. Many times people enter the emergency room in need of a blood transfusion in order to save their life. The duties of the emergency room staff are to identify the appropriate blood type to give the patience without making them ill. Determining what the patient’s blood type is first and then identifying what type of blood the patient can receive is important. You will understand to implications of giving a patience incompatible blood. Law enforcement uses the technique to identify potential suspects in a criminal case. A crime scene can provide investigators with information to help determine who committed a particular crime. Blood-typing can help identify potential suspects but more importantly can rule out people who could not have committed the crime. If a suspect’s blood type does not match the blood sample found at the crime scene then the suspect could not have committed the crime. This sample Blood Analysis Evidence Report provides an example of how law enforcement uses blood samples taken at a crime scene in an investigation.

Overview | Introduction | Background | Case | Process  | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Background on Blood Typing

   In 1900, Karl Landsteiner discovered that there are four major blood types (A, B, AB, and O). These types are based on the presence or absence of specific antigens found on the surface of red blood cells. Two types of antigens (A & B) produce the four blood types as follows.

Type A

The (A) antigen on the red blood cell and the (B) antibody in the plasma

 

Type B

The (B) antigen on the red blood cell and the (A) antibody in the plasma

 

Type AB

Both (A) and (B) antigens on the red blood cell and neither the (A) nor (B) antibody in the plasma

 

Type O

Neither (A) nor (B) antigen on the red blood cell and Both the (A) and (B) antibody in the plasma.

 

 

    These antigens are sometimes called agglutinogens, because combining these antigens with an antibody specific for it will cause clumping of the blood. This is why transfusing a person with the wrong type of blood can be harmful. The patient’s antibodies will attack the transfused blood, clumping the cells, bursting them and releasing their hemoglobin into the plasma, which can be a serious problem if a lot of blood is transfused. The bursting of red blood cells causes a toxic reaction. This reaction can have fatal consequences. To protect people from having their blood clump and burst during blood transfusions and organ donations, blood-typing is conducted to ensure only the proper blood is supplied.

    Blood typing is done with the antibodies against the (A) or (B) antigens. If someone’s blood clumps with only antibody-A, then they are type (A). If the blood clumps with only antibody-B, then they are type (B). If both antibody-A and antibody-B agglutinate, then they are type (AB), or if there is no clumping with either antibody-A or antibody-B, then they are type (O). This is called ABO blood-typing. A person normally has antibodies against the antigens not on his or her own cells. The four combinations of blood types and their unique characteristics limit who can donate and who can receive blood from particular blood types. The following chart provides a visual description of what blood types can give and receive certain blood types.

 

     

    In 1940, another group of antigens was discovered. They were called the Rh factors because they were originally found in rhesus monkeys. People are either (Rh+) or (Rh-). This is what gives a person’s blood type the (+) or (-) sign. For example, a person who has (A) blood and tested positive for the (Rh) antigen would have (A+) blood. It is important for expectant mothers to know their bloods (Rh) factor. A baby’s life could be in danger if a mother's Rh-negative blood attacks the baby's Rh-positive blood passed down from the father. 

    In addition to the importance of blood-typing on your health, blood-typing can help investigators in solving crimes. In forensic science, blood found at the scene of a crime can be typed and compared to the blood type of potential suspects. Though not as unique as fingerprints, blood type can eliminate certain suspects and narrow the criminal investigation.

 

     Overview | Introduction | Background | Case | Process  | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

    Case of the Stolen Serum

Research scientists at Not-so-smart, Inc. have been working for years on a serum that, if injected in to a child, will stimulate growth of new brain cells. Initial tests of the serum in animal models have suggested that it might make children so smart that homework would no longer be necessary. Potential side effects, however, include an increase in head size to about 50% larger than normal. Not-so-smart is not ready to release the serum for human use, but pressure is mounting from children around the country. In addition, competing companies have been trying to obtain the formula in order to market their own version of the miracle drug.

Today, crime investigators were called to the scene in the Not-so-smart laboratory. During the night, someone broke into the laboratory attempting to steal two beakers containing the experimental serum. In the darkness, however, the thief apparently stumbled and broke one of the beakers, leaving the beaker and a bloodied glove as the only clues.

The blood sample from the crime scene was sent to the forensic lab to be analyzed. After the crime investigators carefully reviewed all the evidence, they apprehended four suspects. These suspects were:

 Mr. Stan Smith

A 5^th grade teacher who has graded a few too many book reports. Mr. Smith had been following the Not-so-smart research closely and had been heard to say, “I’d like to get my hands on that stuff! It could save me a fortune in red pens.”

 

Mr. James Jones

A researcher from CloneMart, a competing company. Mr. Jones had also been working on a serum, but had experienced a serious setback in his research when his dog ate his laboratory notes. Mr. Jones had been seen hanging around in the Not-so-smart lobby several evenings in the past week or so.

 

 Grant Green

A 14-year-old student from Wilbur H. Lynch Middle School. Young Mr. Green had been working at Not-so-smart after school helping scientists wash glassware. He was working in the lab the evening of the crime, but no one saw him leave. Young Mr. Green has a major English paper due next week.

 

 

Ms. Barb Brown

A member of the Lynch Homework Advocacy group that believes homework builds character and that it would be wrong to eliminate it. Ms. Brown had been picketing in front of Not-so-smart regularly and appeared frustrated that her concerns were not being addressed.

 

 

 

    The last remaining piece of evidence needed to solve the crime is a match between the blood type found at the scene of the crime and one of the suspects. You have been chosen to provide this last piece of evidence to determine which suspect is the thief.

Overview | Introduction | Background | Case | Process  | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Process

      You will now have an opportunity to test your knowledge of blood-typing by helping forensic scientists solve a crime that has been committed. The information on blood types will allow you to eliminate some suspects and identify the culprit from the four possible suspects. The following is the information needed to start your investigation. You need to use the information provided and your knowledge to work through samples and report back to the police with your findings. Review the sample Blood Analysis Evidence Report to become familiar with the information that can be provided by conducting these tests in the laboratory. To complete this task you will be filling in a report to support your finding to the police as well.

    After you have printed the Blood Analysis Results Chart go to the Forensic Lab to complete all the tests on the blood samples collected from the crime scene. Follow all directions in the forensic lab in order to get accurate results. Fill in the chart with the blood-type information you obtain from each test. Remember the fate of four people rest in the hands of the forensic scientists. The police do not want to send an innocent person to jail and need your help to eliminate suspects that could not have committed the crime.

Overview | Introduction | Background | Case | Process  | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Resources

    The following are the resources that are available to complete the web quest. Use each of these to help you learn more about blood-typing and how it is used in criminal investigations and medical situations.

	Blood Analysis Evidence Report
	Blood Analysis Results Chart
	Forensic Lab
	Blood Typing Activity

Overview | Introduction | Background | Case | Process  | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Evaluation

Grading will be based on filling out the Blood Analysis Results Chart and if you correctly identify the possible suspect. Answering the questions will also be included in your grade. Your grade will be determined out of 20 possible points. Please click here to review the criteria on which your individual grade will be based.

Your grade for this web quest will be averaged in as a homework grade.

Overview | Introduction | Background | Case | Process  | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Conclusion

Blood typing can be very useful. After completing the web quest, can you think of any other possible ways in which people could use blood-typing to help in daily activities? It is important to know your own blood type and understand why knowing your blood type is important. Gaining knowledge about what could happen to you because of your particular blood type is important as well. Can you think of any other situations besides crimes and transfusions where blood-typing can be useful?

I hope you enjoyed your blood-typing experience. Thank you for taking part in the investigation and emergency room activity.