Chemical Connection to Health: Blood Types and CarbohydratesAccording to Karen C. Timberlake, "each individual's blood can be classified as one of four blood groups" (556 ). Blood differences are what differentiates each human body from another. Studies have shown that “people belong to blood type A, B, AB, or O, with each type occurring at different frequencies in populations around the world” (Ananthaswamy 15). A person with one blood type cannot share blood or organs with a person of a different blood type. Failure to distinguish between different blood types can lead to rejection when a patient receives the wrong type from a donor. Certain methods are used to determine a patient's blood type. However, some blood types can accept any blood type, and there are also blood types that can be used for any type of patient. Many different characteristics are used to categorize blood, such as blood groups, agglutination, carbohydrates, antigens, and antibodies. Blood groups can be categorized in different ways. Karl Landsteiner classified “the first three blood groups…[as] A, B, and C (later renamed O from the German word “ohne” meaning “without”)” (Franchini 1545). Each of these blood types also has unique properties that prevent blood from mixing with other blood types. For example, Landsteiner discovered that type A red blood cells contain an A antigen and an anti-B in their serum (Franchini 1545). Type A blood contains the monosaccharides N-acetylglucosamine, galactose, fructose, and “an N-acetylgalactosamine attached to the galactose” (Timberlake 556). The A antigen is used as an identifier for the body to determine whether something in the body system belongs or...... middle of paper ...... medical practitioners to give patients the right blood in case of need. Blood groups, agglutination, carbohydrates, antigens and antibodies are all used to classify blood in health situations. There are four different types of blood groups; type A, type B, type AB, and type O blood. Each of these blood groups has specific antigenic markers used for identification purposes, with the exception of type O, which does not contain any antigens. They also include antibodies that attack foreign invaders, except type AB, which contains no antibodies. The monosaccharide of each blood cell contains N-acetylglucosamine, galactose and fructose. Types A, B and AB contain additional monosaccharides that differentiate from other blood groups. Blood types can be determined using the slide test method or the test tube method, in which doctors add antisera and look for agglutination..