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Articles on Blood cells

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As an animal model, the zebrafish offers many advantages that save researchers time and money. Uri Manor/NICHD via Flickr

Zebrafish are a scientist’s favorite for early-stage research – especially to study human blood disorders

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.
Donor blood must be compatible with the patient’s blood to minimise the chance of a transfusion reaction. Toby Melville/Reuters

Explainer: what are blood groups and why do they matter?

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

Explainer: one day science may cure sickle cell anaemia

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…
Falciparum malaria parasite carried by mosquitoes might be cerebral but has it been outsmarted? PA/Danny Lawson

New twist in age-old war against malaria parasite

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…

Dendrimers could help stop tumours

It may be possible to remove rare tumour cells circulating in the blood, according to new research at the University of illinois…

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