In 1972, doctors discovered a pregnant woman’s blood lacked a surface molecule found in all known red blood cells, leading to the recent identification of a new human blood group system. Researchers from the UK and Israel named it the MAL blood group, which is missing the AnWj antigen due to a mutation in the MAL gene. This rare condition affects less than 0.1% of people.
Identifying this blood group helps in providing better care, as blood mismatches during transfusions can be dangerous. Understanding these rare blood types can improve medical treatments and save lives.