Integrated Science

• Over the years many people died due to blood transfusions
• Blood groups were discovered

  20th century
• Even though at first sight blood looks the same in all people, when analyzed it is very different
• Blood group systems used in medical practice

  • ABO system
  • RH system
• Donor


  The person who gives blood
• Recipient


  The person who receives blood
• Knowing the blood group of the donor and recipient


  Is important to prevent severe reactions that may appear in case of transfusions
• Destruction of red blood cells

  May cause renal failure
• ABO system


  • Red blood cells carry different types of antigens on their surfaces
  • The most important are A and B antigens
  • The body usually produces antibodies against these antigens if they are not found on the person's red blood cells
  • There are four blood groups: O, A, B, and AB
• Blood groups in ABO system


  • O
  • A
  • B
  • AB
• Group O


  • Have neither A nor B antigens and have antibodies against both A and B antigens
  • Can receive blood only from people in group O but can give blood to all other people
• Group A


  • Have A antigens and antibodies against B antigens
  • Can receive blood from people in Group A or O and can give blood to people in Group A or AB
• Group B


  • Have B antigens and antibodies against A antigens
  • Can receive blood from people in Group B or O and can give blood to people in Group B or AB
• Group AB


  • Have both A and B antigens and have no antibodies
  • Can receive blood from people in any group and can only give blood to people in Group AB
• Universal donors


  Group O can give blood to all the other groups in ABO system
• Universal recipients


  Group AB can receive blood from all the other groups in ABO system
• Rh system


  • Rh factor or Rh antigen is a protein on the surface of the red blood cells
  • If the factor is present, the person is Rh positive
  • If the factor is not present, the person is Rh negative
  • About 85% of people are Rh positive and about 15% are Rh negative
• Before any transfusion, it is extremely important that the donor and recipient are compatible in both ABO and Rh systems
• Plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into glucose (C6H12O6), releasing oxygen (O2).
• Plants are producers because they make their own food using sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and minerals.
• An rh negative woman is impregnated by an rh positive man


  The fetus may be rh positive
• During childbirth


  1. Some of the fetal rh positive cells may leak into the maternal bloodstream

  2. The woman's immune system views the rh positive as foreign and makes antibodies against it

  3. If the woman becomes pregnant again and the fetus is rh positive her circulating antibodies will act against it

  4. The attack of maternal antibodies against the fetal red blood cells can be fatal
• Ovulation


  Releases a secondary oocyte and first polar body enclosed within a non-cellular zona pellucida and remnants of the follicle
• Sperm meet up with the oocyte


  1. They surround it and release digestive enzymes that clear a path through the zona pellucida

  2. Although many sperm get this far usually only one penetrates the secondary oocyte

  3. Inside the oocyte's cytoplasm the sperm degenerates until only its nucleus and centrioles remain

  4. Penetration induces the secondary oocyte to finish meiosis

  5. There are now three polar bodies and a mature ovum or egg

  6. The sperm nucleus and egg nucleus fuse

  7. Fertilization is over

  8. The diploid zygote has formed and development will begin