5 December 2012  A leap forward for red blood cell formation
Researchers have identified 75 genetic regions that influence
red blood cell formation  RNAi silencing in fruit flies.  RNAi
silencing in fruit flies. [doi:10.1038/nature11677]
Haemoglobin is the protein which captures oxygen from the lungs
for transport and delivery to tissues. It colours blood cells
red and each day hundreds of millions of fresh red blood cells
have to be formed by blood stem cells to replace the ones which
come to the end of their life cycle. Anaemia, one of the most
common disorders for which people visit their surgery, ensues if
the production of new red blood cells is insufficient or their
lifespan is shortened. The new genetic information is laying the
foundations for future studies into the roots of anaemia by
uncovering new biological pathways and mechanisms involved in
controlling the size and number of red blood cells and the
levels of haemoglobin.  The researchers used genome-wide
association studies to identify gene