Ancient Bloodline Traced Back 700 Million Years
TL;DR
A Kyoto University study suggests modern blood and immune cells arose about 700 million years ago alongside the first multicellular animals, showing that macrophage-like cells and key immune pathways trace to unicellular ancestors; the gene FOS and other developmental pathways appear inherited from those ancient microbes, offering a shared biological legacy across vertebrates and potential insights into disease origins.
- Your Blood May Carry a 700-Million-Year-Old Secret SciTechDaily
- Scientists discover ancient single-celled ancestors still live on in your blood ScienceDaily
- Your Blood May Contain an Evolutionary Relic Older Than Animals Themselves ScienceAlert
- Study reveals the evolution of the most ancient human blood cell Interesting Engineering
- The blood running through your veins has a 700-million-year-old story, and scientists just worked out how it begins The Times of India
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