Nicole Thornton

Stories

Researchers identify new blood group MAL, ending 50-year search

As of September 2026: Leads the reference laboratory that developed the MAL genotyping test

In 1972, blood from a pregnant woman showed red cells missing a surface marker everyone else carried. It took until 2024 to trace that marker to a gene called MAL, establishing a new human blood group system.

Updated Sep 20

Notable Quotes

We have to give them compatible blood. Otherwise there's a high likelihood that they will have a transfusion reaction that could be fatal.

from Researchers identify new blood group MAL, ending 50-year search · Updated Sep 20

It's not truly negative. It's just suppressed.

from Researchers identify new blood group MAL, ending 50-year search · Updated Sep 20

Resolving the genetic basis for AnWj has been one of our most challenging projects. There is so much work that goes into proving that a gene does actually encode a blood group antigen, but it is what we are passionate about, making these discoveries for the benefit of rare patients around the world. Now genotyping tests can be designed to identify genetically AnWj-negative patients and donors. Such tests can be added to the existing genotyping platforms.

from Researchers identify new blood group MAL, ending 50-year search · Updated Sep 20