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Left in, starts exploring long periods with bloodlines (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lineages

'bloodlines' is the definition.
(I know this)

'left in starts exploring long periods' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'starts' suggests taking the first letters.
'long periods' becomes 'ages' (I've seen this before).
The initial letter of 'exploring' is 'e'.
'l'+'in'+'e'+'ages'='LINEAGES'

'with' acts as a link.

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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