Of the many qualities that make the zebrafish a model organism, the fact that it shares 70% of the genes humans have makes it an ideal candidate for developmental biology research.
Patients had fewer lymphocytes in their blood.
Alexander Raths/ Shutterstock
As people’s bodies age, so do their blood cells. This affects immunity and an ability to withstand certain cancer treatments. A recent study in mice suggests that those cells can be rejuvenated.
Donor blood must be compatible with the patient’s blood to minimise the chance of a transfusion reaction.
Toby Melville/Reuters
Our bodies contain trillions of red blood cells. Each is covered in an array of proteins and sugars, inherited from our parents, which determine our blood group.
A child in Senegal waiting to be tested for sickle cell anaemia - in parts of Africa up to 40% of the population can carry the sickle cell gene.
EPA/Pierre Holtz
Genetic mutations that affect our blood cells’ haemoglobin are the most common of all mutations. It has been estimated that around 5% of the world’s population carry a defective globin gene. Haemoglobin…
Chris Moxon, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Cerebral malaria, or malaria of the brain, means being deeply unconscious with perpetual cycles of seizures and spasms. It can cause death, or often disability. About 600,000 people suffer this terrible…