There are only a handful of people with the Vel-negative blood type, but when they receive a transfusion of any other type they can become severely ill, or even die. Science Daily reports that Bryan Ballif, associate professor of biology, has identified the SMIM1 protein responsible for the rare “Vel-type” blood using a  high-resolution mass spectrometer, also creating a method for testing for it in patients, ending a 60 year long search. Read the story...