Molecular analysis of the mouse W and Sl loci has led to the identification of a cell—cell signaling pathway required for the normal functioning of cells within the hematopoietic stem cell hierarchy. This pathway involves the Kit transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase and ligand Steel factor, encoded by the W and SI genes, respectively. These studies illustrate the power of whole organism genetics when used to elucidate hematopoiesis and to identify novel growth factors.
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Alan Bernstein (1992) studied this question.