Low blood supply
Now the method to produce large number of red blood cells has been developed. In this method precursor red blood cells, called hematopoietic stem cells are grown together with stromal cells, an environtment that mimic conditions of bone marrow, the natural site of red blood cells growth. Erythropoietin, a growth factor, is added coaxing the stem cells to complete terminal differentiation to red blood cells. Further research to this technique will have potential benefits to gene therapy and blood transfusion.