Listen & Learn: Blood Types

Learn why different people have different types of blood

• transfusion: the process of giving blood from one person to another
• donor: someone who gives something for a cause
• antigen: a substance that causes a person’s body to react negatively
• classify: to sort into groups
• genetic: determined by DNA
• priority: something that is more important than other things
• emergency: a serious and possibly life-threatening situation

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

For most of history, blood transfusions were very procedures. In 1901, a biologist named Karl Landsteiner noticed that cells clumped together when he mixed blood from two different donors. Antigens in the blood were causing the cells to fight each other. Landsteiner was the first to classify blood into based on antigens. The four main blood groups are A, B, AB, and O. Type A blood has the A antigen, type B blood has the B antigen, type AB blood has both, and type O blood has neither. Blood type is also classified as “” or “” according to a protein called the Rh factor. Positive blood types have the Rh protein, while negative ones do not. Blood types are genetic. , the most common blood type is O-positive. However, O-negative blood is the highest priority for blood banks. This is because anyone can receive O-negative blood in an emergency.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. In 1901, Karl Landsteiner noticed that mixing blood from two donors caused cells to
   a. repel each other
   b. clump together
   c. change colour
   
2. Blood type is determined by
   a. bacteria
   b. diet
   c. genetics
   
3. The blood type that blood banks need the most of is
   a. O-negative
   b. O-positive
   c. AB-positive

Discussion/essay questions

1. Have you ever donated blood? Why or why not? If you have, would you do it again?
2. Many people have difficulty with blood donations or blood tests. Sometimes it is because of a fear of needles, or a fear of seeing blood. Do you get nervous about blood draws? Why do you think this fear is so common?

Transcript

For most of history, blood transfusions were very risky procedures. In 1901, a biologist named Karl Landsteiner noticed that cells clumped together when he mixed blood from two different donors. Antigens in the blood were causing the cells to fight each other. Landsteiner was the first to classify blood into groups based on antigens. The four main blood groups are A, B, AB, and O. Type A blood has the A antigen, type B blood has the B antigen, type AB blood has both, and type O blood has neither. Blood type is also classified as “positive” or “negative” according to a protein called the Rh factor. Positive blood types have the Rh protein, while negative ones do not. Blood types are genetic. Globally, the most common blood type is O-positive. However, O-negative blood is the highest priority for blood banks. This is because anyone can receive O-negative blood in an emergency.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2c 3a