Answer to Question #62515 in Genetics for Zahra Aziz

Question

What is the accepted method for proving that cells derived from bone marrow are true HSCs? Briefly describe the method.

Answer 1

Standard method for proving that cells derived from bone marrow are true HSCs is based largely on animal models of bone marrow transplantation.
Tested cells are injected into a mouse that has received a dose of irradiation sufficient to kill its own blood-producing cells. If the mouse recovers after that and all types of blood cells reappear, the transplanted cells are deemed to have included stem cells.