This chapter presents a brief overview of the mechanisms that maintain hematological homeostasis. Research has generated an enormous amount of information about regulation of hematopoietic cell proliferation, differentiation, and death (apoptosis). Many acquired genetic lesions have been characterized in hematological cancers, probes are available for their detection and specifically targeted treatments are available. Mutant genes and their wild types have been shown to have startling effects during embryogenesis in "knock-in", "knock-out" and "transgenic" mice. Similarly, a detailed understanding of lymphopoiesis has contributed to our understanding of diseases involving the lymph nodes, thymus and the spleen.
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