University of California other research news

Researchers reported that 50 percent of thrombin receptor knockout mice, in which both copies of the cloned gene for the thrombin receptor are disrupted, die at embryonic day 9 to 10. However, the 50 percent that survive appear normal, with normal bleeding. Moreover, their platelets respond strongly to thrombin, although their fibroblasts do not. Therefore, a second platelet receptor for thrombin must exist, the scientists said in their report in Nature. ...