Latest news with #Guadeloupe
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists discover new, rare blood type during routine test
In a routine blood test that turned extraordinary, French scientists have identified the world's newest and rarest blood group. The sole known carrier is a woman from Guadeloupe whose blood is so unique that doctors couldn't find a single compatible donor. The discovery of the 48th recognised blood group, called 'Gwada-negative', began when the woman's blood plasma reacted against every potential donor sample tested, including those from her own siblings. Consequently, it was impossible to find a suitable blood donor for her. Most people know their blood type – A, B, AB or O – along with whether they are Rh-positive or negative. But these familiar categories (those letters plus 'positive' or 'negative') represent just two of several dozens of blood group systems that determine compatibility for transfusions. Each system reflects subtle but crucial differences in the proteins and sugars coating our red blood cells. To solve the mystery of the Guadeloupian woman's incompatible blood, scientists turned to cutting-edge genetic analysis. Using whole exome sequencing – a technique that examines all 20,000-plus human genes – they discovered a mutation in a gene called PIGZ. This gene produces an enzyme responsible for adding a specific sugar to an important molecule on cell membranes. The missing sugar changes the structure of a molecule on the surface of red blood cells. This change creates a new antigen – a key feature that defines a blood group – resulting in an entirely new classification: Gwada-positive (having the antigen) or -negative (lacking it). Using gene editing technology, the team confirmed their discovery by recreating the mutation in a lab. So red blood cells from all blood donors tested are Gwada-positive and the Guadeloupean patient is the only known Gwada-negative person on the planet. The implications of the discovery extend beyond blood transfusions. The patient suffers from mild intellectual disability, and tragically, she lost two babies at birth – outcomes that may be connected to her rare genetic mutation. The enzyme produced by the PIGZ gene operates at the final stage of building a complex molecule called GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol). Previous research has shown that people with defects in other enzymes needed for GPI assembly can experience neurological problems ranging from developmental delays to seizures. Stillbirths are also common among women with these inherited disorders. Although the Caribbean patient is the only person in the world so far with this rare blood type, neurological conditions including developmental delay, intellectual disability and seizures have been noted in other people with defects in enzymes needed earlier in the GPI assembly line. The Gwada discovery highlights both the marvels and challenges of human genetic diversity. Blood groups evolved partly as protection against infectious diseases (many bacteria, viruses and parasites use blood group molecules as entry points into cells). This means your blood type can influence your susceptibility to certain diseases. But extreme rarity creates medical dilemmas. The French researchers acknowledge they cannot predict what would happen if Gwada-incompatible blood were transfused into the Guadeloupian woman. Even if other Gwada-negative people exist, they would be extremely difficult to locate. It is also unclear if they can become blood donors. This reality points towards a futuristic solution: lab-grown blood cells. Scientists are already working on growing red blood cells from stem cells that could be genetically modified to match ultra-rare blood types. In the case of Gwada, researchers could artificially create Gwada-negative red blood cells by mutating the PIGZ gene. A growing field Gwada joins 47 other blood group systems recognised by the International Society of Blood Transfusion. Like most of these blood-group systems, it was discovered in a hospital lab where technicians were trying to find compatible blood for a patient. The name reflects the case's Caribbean roots: Gwada is slang for someone from Guadeloupe, giving this blood group both scientific relevance and cultural resonance. As genetic sequencing becomes more advanced and widely used, researchers expect to uncover more rare blood types. Each discovery expands our understanding of human variation and raises fresh challenges for transfusion and other types of personalised medicine. Martin L. Olsson is a Medical Director at the Nordic Reference Laboratory for Blood Group Genomics, Region Skåne & Professor of Transfusion Medicine, Head of the Division, Lund University
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists discover world's rarest blood group, found in just one person
In a routine blood test that turned extraordinary, French scientists have identified the world's newest and rarest blood group. The sole known carrier is a woman from Guadeloupe whose blood is so unique that doctors couldn't find a single compatible donor. The discovery of the 48th recognised blood group, called 'Gwada-negative', began when the woman's blood plasma reacted against every potential donor sample tested, including those from her own siblings. Consequently, it was impossible to find a suitable blood donor for her. Most people know their blood type – A, B, AB or O – along with whether they are Rh-positive or negative. But these familiar categories (those letters plus 'positive' or 'negative') represent just two of several dozens of blood group systems that determine compatibility for transfusions. Each system reflects subtle but crucial differences in the proteins and sugars coating our red blood cells. To solve the mystery of the Guadeloupian woman's incompatible blood, scientists turned to cutting-edge genetic analysis. Using whole exome sequencing – a technique that examines all 20,000-plus human genes – they discovered a mutation in a gene called PIGZ. This gene produces an enzyme responsible for adding a specific sugar to an important molecule on cell membranes. The missing sugar changes the structure of a molecule on the surface of red blood cells. This change creates a new antigen – a key feature that defines a blood group – resulting in an entirely new classification: Gwada-positive (having the antigen) or -negative (lacking it). Using gene editing technology, the team confirmed their discovery by recreating the mutation in a lab. So red blood cells from all blood donors tested are Gwada-positive and the Guadeloupean patient is the only known Gwada-negative person on the planet. The implications of the discovery extend beyond blood transfusions. The patient suffers from mild intellectual disability, and tragically, she lost two babies at birth – outcomes that may be connected to her rare genetic mutation. The enzyme produced by the PIGZ gene operates at the final stage of building a complex molecule called GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol). Previous research has shown that people with defects in other enzymes needed for GPI assembly can experience neurological problems ranging from developmental delays to seizures. Stillbirths are also common among women with these inherited disorders. Although the Caribbean patient is the only person in the world so far with this rare blood type, neurological conditions including developmental delay, intellectual disability and seizures have been noted in other people with defects in enzymes needed earlier in the GPI assembly line. The Gwada discovery highlights both the marvels and challenges of human genetic diversity. Blood groups evolved partly as protection against infectious diseases (many bacteria, viruses and parasites use blood group molecules as entry points into cells). This means your blood type can influence your susceptibility to certain diseases. But extreme rarity creates medical dilemmas. The French researchers acknowledge they cannot predict what would happen if Gwada-incompatible blood were transfused into the Guadeloupian woman. Even if other Gwada-negative people exist, they would be extremely difficult to locate. It is also unclear if they can become blood donors. This reality points towards a futuristic solution: lab-grown blood cells. Scientists are already working on growing red blood cells from stem cells that could be genetically modified to match ultra-rare blood types. In the case of Gwada, researchers could artificially create Gwada-negative red blood cells by mutating the PIGZ gene. A growing field Gwada joins 47 other blood group systems recognised by the International Society of Blood Transfusion. Like most of these blood-group systems, it was discovered in a hospital lab where technicians were trying to find compatible blood for a patient. The name reflects the case's Caribbean roots: Gwada is slang for someone from Guadeloupe, giving this blood group both scientific relevance and cultural resonance. As genetic sequencing becomes more advanced and widely used, researchers expect to uncover more rare blood types. Each discovery expands our understanding of human variation and raises fresh challenges for transfusion and other types of personalised medicine. Martin L. Olsson is a Medical Director at the Nordic Reference Laboratory for Blood Group Genomics, Region Skåne & Professor of Transfusion Medicine, Head of the Division, Lund University
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'She is the only person in the world compatible with herself' — scientists discover new blood type but it's unique to just one person from Guadeloupe
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have discovered a new blood group that has so far only been identified in one woman, from the French overseas region of Guadeloupe. The 68-year-old is the only known person in the world to have this blood group, which has been named "Gwada negative," after a local name for her home islands. The researchers behind the discovery announced their work in a presentation at the International Society of Blood Transfusion's Congress in Milan, which concluded June 4. The research team first met the woman in 2011, when she was living in Paris and undergoing routine tests before a surgery. But the tests couldn't reveal her blood type or any matches for it. Analysis at the time wasn't advanced enough to detect the cause, and the case lay cold for eight years. In 2019, researchers utilized high-throughput gene sequencing analysis, which enables faster and more in-depth analysis of DNA, to re-examine the woman's blood. Two years of detailed research followed, in which the team sequenced her entire genome. Human blood group systems are more complex than you might think. These classifications refer to proteins and sugars found on the surface of red blood cells, called antigens, which are recognized by our immune system. Austrian-American biologist Dr. Karl Landsteiner identified the first and most familiar blood group system — ABO — in 1901, and this won him a Nobel in 1930. Related: How many blood types are there? The classic ABO blood typing system describes whether people have one, both or neither of the antigens known as "A" and "B" on their blood cells. The second most well-known blood group system is rhesus classification, which considers whether your cells are "positive" or "negative" for an antigen called Rh factor. Together, the combinations of the ABO and Rh systems give us the eight main blood groups — but there are dozens of lesser known blood group systems, 45 of which were recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) as of 2024. Now, Gwada negative has been recognized as number 48. The woman's unusual lab test results eventually led to the discovery of a mutation in a gene called PIGZ, which alters how proteins anchor to the surface of blood cells. The woman's unique mutations mean "she is the only person in the world compatible with herself," Thierry Peyrard, a biologist at French blood research body Établissement français du sang (EFS), told AFP. Blood group systems are essential for blood transfusions, as our bodies reject blood group antigens that they perceive as foreign. If we go back to the ABO system, for example, people with both A and B antigens can receive blood from anyone else, as their body recognizes both antigens as familiar. People with the O blood type have neither A or B antigens, meaning they can only receive blood from other type O donors. RELATED STORIES —What's the rarest blood type? —Lab-made universal blood could revolutionize transfusions. Scientists just got one step closer to making it. —Why do we have different blood types? While the ABO and Rh systems are still considered the most critical for transfusions, rarer systems can still influence who an individual can receive blood from. The research team's next aim is to discover whether there are other people with this unique new blood group. As blood types are genetic and thus often shared by populations with similar ancestries, the team intends to start the search among blood donors in Guadeloupe. "Discovering new blood types means offering patients with rare blood a better level of care," the EFS statement says.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Science news this week: A unique new blood type and 'spiderwebs' on Mars
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. This week's science news kicked off with a staggering first look at images taken by the newly operational Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. Boasting the world's largest digital camera, Rubin's first photo of the night sky included 10 million galaxies in and around the Virgo cluster, many of which have never been seen before. The observatory, which will become fully operational by the end of 2025, promises to gather more data than all other existing optical observatories combined in its first year alone, representatives said in a statement. It's hoped that this data will enable scientists to discover the locations of previously unseen asteroids and gain new insights into the properties of dark matter and dark energy, among other things. After years of analysis and observation, scientists have identified a new blood group, called Gwada negative, that has so far only been identified in only one person on the planet. The 68-year-old from the French overseas region of Guadeloupe became a subject of medical interest in 2011 after routine blood tests were unable to identify her blood type or any compatible matches. Roughly a decade later, and after two years of detailed genome sequencing, it was confirmed that the woman carried a previously unknown blood type thanks to a unique genetic mutation. It is unclear how many other people carry this mutation, if any, but as it stands the patient is the only person in the world with a blood type compatible with her own. Discover more health news —Some early-onset cancers are on the rise. Why? —Fungus that may have caused 'King Tut's curse' shows promise in treating cancer —New 'breathalyzer' could detect signs of disease in human breath, scientists say From birds of prey to tiny insects, animals have evolved an impressive spectrum of visual adaptations to help them see in their environment — whether escaping predators or hunting for prey. But pinpointing exactly which animal has the best eyesight is easier said than done. —If you enjoyed this, sign up for our Life's Little Mysteries newsletter Queen Hatshepsut ruled as pharaoh between 1473 and 1458 B.C. and, until recently, it was thought that after her death her nephew and successor smashed all of her statues to erase her from public memory. However, new research suggests this might not have been the case. Researchers now say that, while Hatshepsut's statues were indeed intentionally broken, it was not to blot out her existence. Rather, her statues are thought to have been broken to "deactivate" their supposed supernatural powers. Discover more archaeology news —'Thriving and densely-built': Archaeologists unearth 'tower' houses and ceremonial building in ancient Egyptian city of Imet —'God-king' born from incest in ancient Ireland wasn't a god or a king, new study finds —40,000-year-old mammoth tusk boomerang is oldest in Europe — and possibly the world —Threaten an AI chatbot and it will lie, cheat and 'let you die' in an effort to stop you, study warns —'Pulsing, like a heartbeat': Rhythmic mantle plume rising beneath Ethiopia is creating a new ocean —'Ring of fire' thunderstorms loom around 'heat dome' as season's first tropical storm, Andrea, named in the Atlantic —Intrepid baby-faced robot dons a jetpack for its next adventure — becoming the first humanoid robot to fly Back in November, orcas off the coast of Washington brought back a bizarre trend that hadn't been reported since the 1980s: balancing dead salmon on their heads. Now, the same orca pod has been filmed giving each other "massages" with seaweed, a behavior that has never been reported before. The footage shows the orcas breaking off sections of bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), pressing the stems against the body of another orca and rolling the kelp between their bodies, in what seems to be a newly described grooming ritual. The researchers believe it is the first example of tool manufacture by marine mammals, the first known tool used in wild animals that benefits two individuals at once, and the first time non-human animals have been observed manipulating a tool with the core of their bodies, rather than an appendage. If you're looking for something a little longer to read over the weekend, here are some of the best long reads, book excerpts and interviews published this week. —AI hallucinates more frequently as it gets more advanced — is there any way to stop it from happening, and should we even try? (Analysis) —The San Andreas Fault: Facts about the crack in California's crust that could unleash the 'Big One' (Fact file) —How to photograph your microscope specimens (Feature) And something for the skywatchers —You can see a giant 'hole' shoot across Saturn this summer — and it won't happen again until 2040 Mysterious patterns on Mars, spanning up to 12 miles (20 kilometers), have been photographed up close for the first time. The spiderweb-like structures, known as "boxwork," are made up of criss-crossing ridges of mineral-rich rock that scientists believe may have been left behind by ancient groundwater on the Red Planet. The web-like structures were photographed by NASA's Curiosity rover, and scientists hope that studying them up close could reveal more about Mars' watery past and provide clues about whether the planet once harbored life. Want more science news? Follow our Live Science WhatsApp Channel for the latest discoveries as they happen. It's the best way to get our expert reporting on the go, but if you don't use WhatsApp, we're also on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Flipboard, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky and LinkedIn.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors Found a New Blood Type and It Changes What We Thought We Knew
For decades, most of us thought blood types were simple: A, B, AB, or O—each with a positive or negative Rh factor. But that's just the surface. Scientists now recognize 48 distinct blood type groups, and the newest one, just officially classified, belongs to exactly one person on Earth. Meet 'Gwada negative,' the rarest blood type known to science, Live Science reported. The story begins 15 years ago, when doctors in France drew blood from a woman with Caribbean ancestry from Guadeloupe, known locally as 'Gwada.' At the time, she was undergoing routine testing ahead of a surgery. But what her blood revealed was anything but routine. Back in 2011, researchers noticed an unusual antibody. It took nearly a decade of genetic analysis and DNA sequencing to uncover the source: a previously unknown mutation that altered the structure of her blood in a way never seen before. This month, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) confirmed the discovery, officially designating 'Gwada negative' as the 48th recognized blood group. According to Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist with the French Blood Establishment (EFS), she's the only person known to carry it and the only person in the world she's compatible with for transfusions. 'Discovering new blood groups means offering patients with rare blood a better level of care,' the EFS said in a statement. That's because while ABO-Rh typing is safe for most transfusions, rare blood groups can lead to life-threatening complications if not properly matched. With over 600 known antigens on blood cells, there are theoretically millions of possible combinations. But until now, only 47 had been officially cataloged. Thanks to advances in gene sequencing, that number is growing quickly, so don't be surprised if more discoveries like 'Gwada negative' follow. For one woman in France, her blood told a story no one else Found a New Blood Type and It Changes What We Thought We Knew first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 26, 2025
