BLOOD

Blood is helpful in forensics because blood splatters and blood stains at a crime scene can help identify cause of death, angle of which someone was attacked by (hit in head, stabbed in back, etc), and weapon used to commit crime (knife, gun, etc). Blood found at a crime scene can also help identify DNA, who was at the scene, and foreign substances in body.

Blood is important to the body because it helps maintain blood tissues. It is also responsible for taking oxygen to the lungs (red blood cells) which is vital for our survival. Blood also helps protect against infections (white blood cells) and provide nutrients for the body.

FUN FACTS

• Babies are born with one cup of blood in their body
• One pint of blood given can save three lives
• We have tens of thousands of miles of blood vessels running throughout out body
• Blood makes up about 7-8% of our body weight
• A red blood cell can completely circuit your body in about thirty seconds

THE BONNIE HORINEK CASE:
A man, Warren Horinek, called into the police station saying his wife had just shot herself. He was known to be a drunk and verbally abusive. The night they called in, the couple had been drinking at a local bar. After returning home, police got the call and by the time they arrived Bonnie was already dead. They found two guns at the scene, blood all over Warren's shirt, and no bullet, which puzzled investigators. Warren often played with guns when he was drunk and even fired some over Bonnie's head. All the suspicious behavior and lack of incriminating evidence caused them to bring in a bloodstain analyst. The suspicious blood patterns discovered on Warren's shirt are what eventually sent him to jail. In a case with a lack of evidence sometimes it's just one piece of evidence that can push the line between guilty and innocent.

Serology is the study of introduced substances, pathogens, and antibodies in the blood

Plasma is the fluid part of blood where electrons wander freely

Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in order to filter out intruders from entering the body

Antigens a foreign substance or intruder that may enter the body and cause harm

Erythrocytes a red blood cell that contains hemoglobin

ABO is a blood type system used to classify and properly transfuse blood without causing adverse reactions.
Types: A, B, AB, O

Rh is a protein found in the red blood cells. If this protein is not present you are Rh negative. If this protein is present you are Rh positive

Leukocytes are a colorless blood cells that aid in the blocking of harmful substances and antigens

Platelets are a colorless cell fragment that are involved in blood clots

Hemoglobin is a red blood cell protein that aids in the transportation of oxygen

Blood factors are a combination of antigens, enzymes, and proteins in blood

Serum helps separate clotted blood

SOURCES

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072576/
• https://www.texasobserver.org/a-bloody-injustice/
• https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/22288
• http://www.factslides.com/s-Blood