Newly discovered “Gwada-negative” is the rarest of 48 known blood groups

 

 

 

Complete each gap in the article extract with just one word.

 

In 1. ……. routine blood test that turned extraordinary, French scientists 2. …… identified 3. ……. world’s newest and rarest blood group. The sole known carrier 4. ….. a woman from Guadeloupe 5. ….. blood is so unique that doctors couldn’t find a single compatible donor.

The discovery 6. ……. the 48th recognised blood group, called “Gwada-negative”, began when the woman’s blood plasma reacted against every potential donor sample tested, 7. ……. those from her own siblings. Consequently, it was impossible 8. ……. find a suitable blood donor for her.

Many people know their blood type – A, B, AB or O – along  with 9. ….. 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 10. …… determine compatibility for transfusions. Each system reflects subtle 11. …… crucial differences in the proteins and sugars coating our red blood cells. (…)

In order to read the whole article, go to: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/doctors-discover-new-blood-type-and-only-one-person-has-it/

Key: 1. a; 2. have; 3. the; 4. is; 5. whose; 6. of; 7. including; 8. to; 9. whether; 10. that; 11. but

 

Glossary

 

• sole – meaning single, one and only, or exclusive
• seizure – episode caused by sudden, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the brain, leading to temporary changes in movement, behavior, awareness, or consciousness; medical sources explain that seizures may manifest as convulsions, staring spells, muscle stiffness, or loss of awareness, typically lasting less than two minutes
• stillbirth – the birth of an infant that has died in the womb
• susceptibility – the quality or state of being easily affected by something, such as disease or suggestion; a predisposition or vulnerabilityFill in the gaps in the article extract with the words in bold below:

 

Practice makes perfect

Watch the video and decide if the sentences below are true or false:

 

 

1. William Halstead successfully gave blood to his sister because they had the same blood type.

2. Blood types were well understood during Dr. Halstead’s time.

3. Jean-Baptiste Denis tried to cure a psychological illness using blood from a sheep.

4. Antibodies help the body identify and attack foreign cells.

5. Destroyed blood cells are removed from the body through sweat.

6. Mixing incompatible blood types causes clots to form.

7. Blood from the same type might be attacked by the recipient’s immune system.

8. Before 1914, one way of blood transfusion was to tranfer it directly from one person to another.

9. Heparin was replaced by more advanced anticoagulants in modern medicine.

10. Portable blood machines first helped save lives on the battlefield in World War II.

 

Key: 1T; 2F; 3T; 4T; 5F; 6T; 7F; 8F; 9F; 10F

 

Discuss

 

• What broader challenges arise from discovering an ultra‑rare blood type?
• What solutions could technology offer for rare blood types like Gwada‑negative?
• How might blood group diversity have evolved to protect against diseases?
• Can you think of historical or recent medical discoveries that changed how we treat patients?
• In what ways do we rely on genetic knowledge in modern medicine, and where might this lead us next?
• What are the ethical implications of xenotransfusion?

Watch and Revise!

 

Blood Types

The Mystery of Gwada-negative and Future of Transfusions

 

https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/nTdtMNYx6LZAcfM

 

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