Recombinant DNA technology has allowed the cloning, sequencing and large-scale production of human erythropoietin, which is now used in therapy for the anaemia of renal disease. In addition, there are many ongoing clinical trials in which recombinant human erythropoietin is being investigated. The availability of the recombinant reagent has added great impetus to all areas of erythropoetin and erythropoiesis research. This multidisciplinary work brings...