Discovery of⁣ the 47th Blood Type: A Breakthrough in Medical Science

The ⁢blood sample Louise ⁣Tilly received revealed a unique ⁢genetic trait that‍ had ‍eluded her colleagues‍ for more than⁢ 30 years. In 1972, doctors discovered⁢ that red blood cells in a sample taken from a pregnant woman lacked surface markers, called ‌antigens,‌ found in normal people.

No one knew why ‍the antigens were missing,‍ but antigens are ‌crucial in determining blood type. If you ⁣received a transfusion of blood with ​antigens different from those in‍ your own blood, it‌ could be fatal.

It was in the early 2000s, shortly after she started working at the UK’s‌ National Health Service Blood and Organ Transplant ⁤(NHSBT),⁣ that a colleague suggested she try to solve the decades-old mystery surrounding this very unusual blood. Several blood samples had been found over the years that were similarly antigen-deficient, so it seemed​ possible to⁤ compare ⁤these rare cases, Tilly recalls.

it took her and⁢ her colleagues another 19⁣ years to discover the genetic basis for the antigen-depleting blood, and⁣ more than half a ‍century after ‍the first ​mysterious blood⁤ samples were taken, to publish their findings in the⁢ journal Blood. This means ⁣that the 47th blood type has been discovered.

Understanding Blood Types

Your blood type is determined by whether or‌ not you have certain antigens on your red blood cells.‍ You may have heard of the most well-known ABO and Rh blood types. In fact, there are other types as ‌well. There ⁣are 46 types of‌ blood types, and many ‌types affect only⁢ a small percentage of people, but most of them are rare. In any case, your blood type (including this new discovery) can now be classified into 47 different types.

The New Blood Type: AnWj-Negative

The⁤ antigen that⁢ was missing from the blood samples Tilly’s team tested is called “AnWj,” named after two ​individuals who‍ tested negative​ for AnWj. The vast majority of people are AnWj positive, while negative cases are extremely rare. Nicole Thornton, ​a co-author of the study ⁢who works with Tilly at NHSBT, suggested that ⁣while she couldn’t⁢ provide a specific estimate, there could be‍ fewer than tens of ​thousands of people on the planet⁤ who‌ are AnWj negative.

Knowing your blood is ‍AnWj-negative could be lifesaving if, say, you need a⁢ transfusion‍ in the hospital. “You have to give them… compatible ‍blood, because⁣ if you don’t, they’re more likely⁣ to have ‌a fatal transfusion reaction and die,” ⁢Thornton says.

Reasons for Loss of AnWj Antigen

To better understand the blood typing system‍ and be able to identify potential AnWj-negative blood donors, Tilly, Thornton ⁣and their colleagues tried to find the ⁤underlying genetic cause. However, initially ⁣they had no idea which of the thousands of genes in the ‌human genome were responsible for determining whether someone‍ was positive or negative for the AnWj antigen. However, the team ‍suspected that a gene called “MAL,” which plays⁢ an important ⁤role ​in various functions of blood cells, might be involved.

The discovery ‍of the 47th blood type is a significant breakthrough in medical science, and it highlights the importance of continued research into the complexities of the human body. By understanding ⁢more about our blood types and how ​they are⁢ determined, we​ can improve our ability to provide ⁤safe and ​effective medical care.