Scientists Have Discovered a New Blood Type. Only One Person on Earth Has It.
The ABO-Rh system of blood group typing is an immensely successful method that helps medical professionals safely perform blood transfusions throughout the world.
Scientists from the French Blood Establishment (EFS) has successfully identified the ultra-rare 48th blood type group, known as 'Gwada negative,' which came from a blood sample originally drawn some 15 years ago.
Although rare, it's important for physicians to know about these blood types so that impacted patients can receive the best care possible.
Most people are familiar with the four broad human blood types—A, B, AB, and O—and it's likely they may even know that they come in positive or negative varieties (an indicator of what's called an Rh factor) as well. However, that's really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the complexity of human blood types. In fact, humans theoretically contain millions of different blood types, as there are more than 600 antigens that have been identified on human blood cells. Any combination of those antigens could be considered a new blood type.
However, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) only recognizes 47 distinct blood type groups, with the latest being added just last year after a 50-year-long mystery. Now, according to a press statement published on LinkedIn by the French Blood Establishment (EFS), a 48th member has officially joined the party. Some 15 years ago, researchers received blood from a French woman originating from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, colloquially referred to as 'Gwada.' The patient drew blood while undergoing routine tests before surgery.
An unusual antibody associated with this blood was discovered in 2011, but it wasn't until 2019 that DNA sequencing found that a genetic mutation was responsible for the unique blood type, which was officially recognized by the ISBT this month. The researchers named the group 'Gwada negative,' after the patient's homeland, and confirmed that the woman inherited the blood type from her parents, who each contained the mutated gene.
'[This] is undoubtedly the only known case in the world,' Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at EFS, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). 'She is the only person in the world who is compatible with herself.'
Its immensely important to know the antigen make-up of your blood before undergoing blood transfusions, as mismatch can trigger a life-threatening immune response. Essentially, your body thinks the antigens attached to the foreign blood cells are invaders. Although there are potentially millions of blood types, transfusions made with blood that matches your type according to the well-established ABO-Rh type system have a 99.8 percent chance of success. This is because your body's immune response doesn't attack all antigens equally, so even if there are some differences, the transfusion will likely be a success.
However, it's still important to identify these ultra-rare blood types so that life-threatening immune responses can be avoided. 'Discovering new blood groups means offering patients with rare blood a better level of care,' the EFS team said in a press statement.
Although the current number of blood groups sits at 48, that likely won't be the last count. Advancements in gene sequencing have supercharged the discovery of these blood groups. For example, the 44th member of this group, known simply as 'Er,' was discovered in 2022, meaning that scientists are currently discovering more than one new blood group a year.
2025 might hold one or two more blood-based surprises of its own.
You Might Also Like
The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape
The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere
Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton Health Update Revealed, 'Major Shifts' Reportedly on the Horizon
Kate Middleton Health Update Revealed, 'Major Shifts' Reportedly on the Horizon originally appeared on Parade. The Princess of Wales, Princess Catherine—commonly referred to as —is quietly entering a 'summer of strength' following a grueling health ordeal and recent chemotherapy. After being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024, she received remission news in January 2025 and has since steadily re-emerged into her royal duties and public life. A close royal source revealed to People in an article published on Monday, June 17, 'There are some major shifts coming behind the scenes.' This shift reportedly extends beyond her health to a profound recalibration of her public and private roles. Having slowed her royal schedule while tending to her health, Kate has now adopted a more deliberate, selective approach—choosing engagements that align with her wellness and personal growth. 'They were able to step back and reassess their priorities in all aspects of their lives,' a friend close to the royal couple told the magazine. Since her remission, the princess, 43, has made memorable appearances at key events—Trooping the Colour, where she stood alongside , 76, and , 77, and the Order of the Garter in Windsor—each occasion underscored by a measured sense of readiness for what's to come next in her journey. 'She projected the confidence of someone who has enthusiastically reconnected with her public duties,' royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told the by insiders as radiating a 'poised, queen‑in‑waiting demeanor,' Kate's public return has been further characterized by her commitment to family, nature, and quiet reflection in Norfolk and elsewhere. 'She gets so much sustenance in nature, and she's lucky to have homes in some of the most beautiful parts of Britain: in Norfolk and on the Windsor estate,' Queen Elizabeth's former spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson noted. 'She'll be able to reenergize herself.' According to the report, Kate is now engaged in reassessing her responsibilities—a move that mirrors King Charles' approach amid his own health concerns. 'She's being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life,' Anderson added. Looking forward, Kate is expected to make carefully curated public appearances this summer—events like Wimbledon, and possibly hosting French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, at Windsor Castle—while still nurturing her restorative family life. 'She's inspiring many people who have suffered similar health issues,' the source close to the royal household said. 'She has been open and transparent about her cancer journey and demonstrated how you can get on with your life. It is wonderful to see.' They added: 'I don't think you ever recover fully from what Kate has had to endure this last year. She has always been a huge asset to the royal family, but even more so now.' While few details have been disclosed beyond the promise of 'major shifts,' Middleton's return to the spotlight is marked by intention. Her evolving approach, profoundly informed by her cancer experience, suggests a redefined role—one seemingly rooted in wellness, centered on purpose, and shaped with clarity as she prepares for the next era of her life and royal duties. Next: Kate Middleton Health Update Revealed, 'Major Shifts' Reportedly on the Horizon first appeared on Parade on Jun 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
For first time, Webb telescope discovers an alien planet
By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) -In addition to providing a trove of information about the early universe, the James Webb Space Telescope since its 2021 launch has obtained valuable data on various already-known planets beyond our solar system, called exoplanets. Now, for the first time, Webb has discovered an exoplanet not previously known. Webb has directly imaged a young gas giant planet roughly the size of Saturn, our solar system's second-largest planet, orbiting a star smaller than the sun located about 110 light-years from Earth in the constellation Antlia, researchers said. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km). Most of the roughly 5,900 exoplanets discovered since the 1990s have been detected using indirect methods, such as through observation of the slight dimming of a star's light when a planet passes in front of it, called the transit method. Less than 2% of them have been directly imaged, as Webb did with the newly identified planet. While this planet is large when considered in the context of our solar system, it is actually the least massive one ever discovered through direct imaging - 10 times less massive than the previous record holder. This speaks to the sensitivity of Webb's instruments. This discovery was achieved using a French-produced coronagraph, a device that blocks out the bright light from a star, installed on Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI. "Webb opens a new window - in terms of mass and the distance of a planet to the star - of exoplanets that had not been accessible to observations so far. This is important to explore the diversity of exoplanetary systems and understand how they form and evolve," said astronomer Anne-Marie Lagrange of the French research agency CNRS and LIRA/Observatoire de Paris, lead author of the study published on Wednesday in the journal Nature. The planet orbits its host star, called TWA 7, at a distance about 52 times greater than Earth's orbital distance from the sun. To put that in perspective, our solar system's outermost planet Neptune orbits about 30 times further from the sun than Earth. The transit method of discovering exoplanets is particularly useful for spotting those orbiting close to their host star rather than much further out like the newly identified one. "Indirect methods provide incredible information for planets close to their stars. Imaging is needed to robustly detect and characterize planets further away, typically 10 times the Earth- to-sun distance," Lagrange said. The birth of a planetary system begins with a large cloud of gas and dust - called a molecular cloud - that collapses under its own gravity to form a central star. Leftover material spinning around the star in what is called a protoplanetary disk forms planets. The star and the planet in this research are practically newborns - about 6 million years old, compared to the age of the sun and our solar system of roughly 4.5 billion years. Because of the angle at which this planetary system is being observed - essentially looking at it from above rather than from the side - the researchers were able to discern the structure of the remaining disk. It has two broad concentric ring-like structures made up of rocky and dusty material and one narrow ring in which the planet is sitting. The researchers do not yet know the composition of the planet's atmosphere, though future Webb observations may provide an answer. They also are not certain whether the planet, being as young as it is, is still gaining mass by accumulating additional material surrounding it. While this planet is the smallest ever directly imaged, it is still much more massive than rocky planets like Earth that might be good candidates in the search for life beyond our solar system. Even with its tremendous capabilities of observing the cosmos in near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelengths, Webb is still not able to directly image Earth-sized exoplanets. "Looking forward, I do hope the projects of direct imaging of Earth-like planets and searches for possible signs of life will become a reality," Lagrange said.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scientists Have Discovered a New Blood Type. Only One Person on Earth Has It.
The ABO-Rh system of blood group typing is an immensely successful method that helps medical professionals safely perform blood transfusions throughout the world. Scientists from the French Blood Establishment (EFS) has successfully identified the ultra-rare 48th blood type group, known as 'Gwada negative,' which came from a blood sample originally drawn some 15 years ago. Although rare, it's important for physicians to know about these blood types so that impacted patients can receive the best care possible. Most people are familiar with the four broad human blood types—A, B, AB, and O—and it's likely they may even know that they come in positive or negative varieties (an indicator of what's called an Rh factor) as well. However, that's really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the complexity of human blood types. In fact, humans theoretically contain millions of different blood types, as there are more than 600 antigens that have been identified on human blood cells. Any combination of those antigens could be considered a new blood type. However, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) only recognizes 47 distinct blood type groups, with the latest being added just last year after a 50-year-long mystery. Now, according to a press statement published on LinkedIn by the French Blood Establishment (EFS), a 48th member has officially joined the party. Some 15 years ago, researchers received blood from a French woman originating from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, colloquially referred to as 'Gwada.' The patient drew blood while undergoing routine tests before surgery. An unusual antibody associated with this blood was discovered in 2011, but it wasn't until 2019 that DNA sequencing found that a genetic mutation was responsible for the unique blood type, which was officially recognized by the ISBT this month. The researchers named the group 'Gwada negative,' after the patient's homeland, and confirmed that the woman inherited the blood type from her parents, who each contained the mutated gene. '[This] is undoubtedly the only known case in the world,' Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at EFS, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). 'She is the only person in the world who is compatible with herself.' Its immensely important to know the antigen make-up of your blood before undergoing blood transfusions, as mismatch can trigger a life-threatening immune response. Essentially, your body thinks the antigens attached to the foreign blood cells are invaders. Although there are potentially millions of blood types, transfusions made with blood that matches your type according to the well-established ABO-Rh type system have a 99.8 percent chance of success. This is because your body's immune response doesn't attack all antigens equally, so even if there are some differences, the transfusion will likely be a success. However, it's still important to identify these ultra-rare blood types so that life-threatening immune responses can be avoided. 'Discovering new blood groups means offering patients with rare blood a better level of care,' the EFS team said in a press statement. Although the current number of blood groups sits at 48, that likely won't be the last count. Advancements in gene sequencing have supercharged the discovery of these blood groups. For example, the 44th member of this group, known simply as 'Er,' was discovered in 2022, meaning that scientists are currently discovering more than one new blood group a year. 2025 might hold one or two more blood-based surprises of its own. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
