Research from Kyoto University reveals that human blood cells may trace their lineage back to single-celled ancestors that existed 700 million years ago. This discovery highlights the evolutionary connection between modern immune cells and ancient life forms, shedding light on the origins and diversification of blood cells across species.

• 01The study indicates that the first blood cells likely emerged around the same time multicellular animals appeared on Earth, approximately 700 million years ago.
• 02Macrophages, a type of immune cell, showed the strongest similarities to unicellular organisms, suggesting they are among the earliest blood cell types.
• 03The research team developed a new analytical method to trace blood cell evolution, revealing how different blood cell types branched off over time.
• 04The findings illustrate that modern blood and immune cells retain genetic material from ancient single-celled ancestors.
• 05The study could provide insights into the evolutionary origins of diseases, potentially leading to new treatment approaches.