Science to the rescue: blood typing

For this lesson, students from the middle age cohort were charged with two missions: 1) save hospital patients by coordinating blood transfusions and 2) help doctors treating the victim of a bike crash identify suitable blood donors among the victim’s friends.

For the first mission, students explored the Blood Typing Game, a computer game developed in honor of Dr. Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO blood groups in 1901. Landsteiner was awarded a Nobel Prize for discovering that each blood type is based on two different antigens, A and B, which are molecules located on the surface of red blood cells.  The Blood Typing Game challenges students to figure out which blood types are and are not compatible, and to use that information to blood type patients and then to figure out which types of blood each patient can safely receive in a transfusion.  Students explored a quick version of this game, and if they want to follow up with additional missions the game can be accessed here: http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/bloodtypinggame/.

The second mission took the form of a hands-on laboratory activity investigating blood typing. Students used simulated blood to determine which friends could safely donate their blood to “Mrs. Potter” for a much-needed blood transfusion after a serious biking accident. Ask your student how they determined the appropriate blood donor!

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