Blood Typing Lab
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1
2
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4Name: ______________________________
Date: _______________
Period: _______
Blood Typing Lab
Background:
The ABO blood typing system is genetically a bit different than other traits because blood
shows codominance, multiple alleles, and simple dominance. In the ABO blood typing system, the
presence or absence of the A or B proteins on the red blood cells determines an individual’s blood
type. Individuals whose red blood cells contain protein A but lack protein B have type A blood. Those
who have protein B and lack protein A are considered blood type B. Individuals with both protein A
and protein B are called type AB and those lacking the presence of both proteins are blood type O.
A
B
A
B
There are three alleles in the gene pool for ABO blood type, i.e., I
, I
, and i. I
codes for protein A, I
for protein B and i codes for neither protein A nor protein B (type O).
Within this multiple allele pool the gene interactions illustrate both simple dominance as well
as codominance. (Remember each individual has only two alleles for each trait even if there are
A
multiple alleles in the gene pool.) When the I
i allele combination occurs, the individual has type A.
A
B
A
B
When the I
I
combination occurs, the I
and I
alleles are codominant and the individual has type AB.
The chart below illustrates the allele combinations, resulting blood type, proteins on the red blood
cells, and antibodies in the blood for the four blood types in the ABO system.
Phenotype
Genotype
Protein on RBC (antigen)
A
A
A
Type A
I
I
or I
i
A
B
B
B
Type B
I
I
or I
i
B
A
B
Type AB
I
I
A and B
Type O
ii
-
Rh is another protein on red blood cells. When indicating if a person has the Rh protein, we
write a “+” after their blood type, such as AB+. If they are missing the Rh protein, we write a “-” after
their blood type, such as O-. Being positive or negative does not make you healthier - it is just a
variation of blood proteins.
Agglutination (clumping) occurs when an anti-serum is mixed with the corresponding blood
type. For example, you would see agglutination of type A blood when mixed with anti-a sera. If the
blood has the Rh protein (+), you would see agglutination with the anti-Rh sera.
Purpose: In this lab activity, you will carry out and observe a simulated blood typing test. You will
learn how blood typing works and how blood type is inherited.
Pre-Lab Questions:
1. If a person’s blood clumps with Anti-b sera, but not with Anti-A or Anti-Rh, what blood type
does this person have?
2. If a person’s blood clumps with Anti-Rh sera, but not with Anti-A or Anti-B, what blood type
does this person have?
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