ScienceMakers Toolkit Manual - The History Makers

Life Science
8. If you were a biochemist, what kinds of questions would you study?
9. Dr. Watson works with lipids. Lipids are a broad group of naturally occurring molecules. What does this
group contain? What lipids have you heard of? Lipids can be harmful or helpful to the human body.
Research some lipids and explain how they harm or help the body. (See Science aids: Lipids)
10. Dr. Watson has been recognized by the American Heart Association for his work with arteriosclerosis.
What is arteriosclerosis? Why is this so serious? What are some of the causes of arteriosclerosis? How
are riosclerosis usually detected? Are there different types of arteriosclerosis? How is
arteriosclerosis treated? (See Biography)
Additional Reading
Science aids: Lipids - http://scienceaid.co.uk/biology/biochemistry/lipids.html
Experiment - Blood Typing
This experiment was developed by the Center of Science and Industry, Columbus, OH.
Description
Participants will distinguish between the four major blood types: A, B, AB, and O, using chemical reactions.
Concepts
Human blood can be divided into four major types: A, B, AB, and O.
Materials:
• Per Participant:
- Creamer
- Vinegar
- Stir Sticks/Toothpicks
- Typing late P
- (5) Pipettes
- 5) Vials (
- (Red, Blue, and Yellow) Food Coloring
Instructions:
Provide some background information regarding human blood and the importance of blood typing, particularly
its signifi cance in surgical procedures.
James Blundell accomplished the fi rst successful human blood transfusion in 1818. In 1900, Karl Lanstreimer
observed that the blood of one individual, when mixed with the blood of another, might cause hemolysis, the
visible clumping of red cells. This observation resulted in the establishment of blood typing: the distinction of
four blood groups: A, B, AB, and O.
These different blood types are caused by the presence of a chemical marker-an antigen-on the surface of the
type-A and type-B red blood cells. When mixed with the wrong blood type, antibodies that cause the cells to
clump pick up these antigens. Someone with type-AB blood can receive any type blood with no ill effects,
while people with type-O blood can only take their own type. People with type-A blood can receive A or O,
and people with type-B blood can take B or O. This makes type-O blood the universal donor. Blood donors and
recipients must be typed and matched very carefully before transfusions are given.
Glossary
Agglutination - the clumping together of blood cells in response to a specifi c antibody.
Antigen - any substance that will trigger an immune response by a host organism.
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