Blood’s ancient lineage traced to single-celled ancestors
Researchers mapped the evolution of blood cells across animals, revealing a 700‑million‑year link between modern blood cells and unicellular ancestors. Macrophages show the strongest similarity to these early cells, and the FOS gene traces back to a unicellular origin, suggesting first blood cells arose as multicellular life emerged. Over time, mast cells, T cells, red blood cells, and B cells branched from these roots. The new method reconstructs a 700‑million‑year blood‑cell family tree and could help study disease origins, including cancer.
