Frazz by Jef Mallett for February 13, 2024

I remember a cool strip where Frazz told a boy why Miss Plainwell is wearing a T-shirt to donate blood, since it reveals why everyone is so interested in her, including the boy’s father(he likes her legs).

I know of four blood types (not including + and -). Is that a lot more?

The kid with the strange hair is smart?

Pepsi is my juice of choice.

Thinking like a scientist (following the scientific method) should include doing research to find out what you can (see what is already known) about the thing you are studying or trying to figure out.

Doing that can help you make an educated guess (a hypothesis).

One blood type for every gender

Sharp kid and focused, unlike a certain other one, whose goal is to pester.

A very good scientist would at least have examined whether there are important differences between blood and juice, preferably before trying that juice donation hypothesis on live patients. So, no, she’s not a “very good scientist.” She’s a terrible scientist!

There are actually several hundred different blood types in the population. The ones (most) people have are A, B, O, and AB, and either Rh pos or neg. Some people have no A, B or O antigens on their blood cells (exceedingly rare), and some have no Rh antigens (called Rhnull, or the rarest blood type in the world!). Within the Rh blood system, there are 56 different subtypes, the most common being the CDEcde phenotypes, which cause the most problems for blood bankers with patients who are Rh- but have been given Rh+ blood (I’m a cde/cde myself). The other blood groups can cause issues if someone receives blood with a particular antigen that they are lacking.. their body could conceive that antigen as "non-self’, and make antibodies against it. It’s why blood bankers in the hospitals always perform a ‘type and crossmatch’ if your doctor anticipates that you will need a blood transfusion, to see if you have possibly developed any antibodies, and to find compatible blood for you. Some of the other blood groups are named after the person who was first found to have this particular antibody, or the person who discovered it.. with names like Kell, Matthews, Duffy.. The reason I got into blood banking was the ARC sent me a little card after the first time I donated, showing I was listed in the “Rare Donor Registry”, had a lot of letters, plusses and minuses listed on it. I finally asked one time when they called me in what it all meant. One of the techs from their lab came down to explain to me that I was not only O- (which is about 7% of the population) but something called Lu(a+b-), which is about 0.1% of the population. The Lu stands for “Lutheran”. So yeah, I’m rather rare. They froze my blood for the particular patient who might’ve had Lub antibodies, and with me being O-, my blood could be used for any patient regardless of their blood type. Intrigued me, got my degree in medical technology, and am an MTSBB

Some of the most fascinating breakthroughs have been creative or unexpected. Sometimes it’s the playfulness and openness that leads to a discovery. Something most kids have in Spades.

You’re thinking like an engineer

When I had my cataract surgery they gave me a drink and a snack.

How exactly is that scientific?

Reminder of how important it is to give blood. It doesn’t hurt, it isn’t dangerous and you will feel good afterwards. Plus those cookies are great. I gave until they wouldn’t take it anymore because of medication and travel. I managed about 15 gallons or more.

I’ll get to 13 gallons next month. I donate every eight weeks.