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Summary. As part of a study of the thrombogenic properties of dialysis membranes a test-cell has been devised in which the retention of platelets in the presence of different membranes can be measured. This provides a test for platelet adhesiveness which in certain aspects is more sensitive and reproducible than a glass bead column technique. The normal range for platelet adhesiveness was found to be 31 ± 9% using whole blood and 19 ± 3% using platelet-rich plasma. The platelet adhesiveness value was largely independent of the packed red cell volume but was, in part, dependent upon the presence of adenosine diphosphate. The membrane test-cell system was sensitive enough to demonstrate a constant and significant fall in platelet adhesiveness following salicylate ingestion. It was convenient in use as blood anticoagulated with 3.8% sodium citrate allowed delays of up to 1 hr without influencing the result. Heparin was found to have an inhibitory effect on platelet adhesiveness. The use of twin test-cells allowed platelet adhesion to two different dialysis membranes to be studied simultaneously. It was found that fewer platelets adhered to Cuprophan PT 150 membranes than to PT 300 membranes suggesting that PT 150 membranes may be less thrombogenic in vivo.

Indirect modification of animal genomes by interspecific hybridization, cross-breeding, and selection has produced an enormous spectrum of phenotypic diversity over more than 10,000 yr of animal domestication. Using these established technologies, the farming community has successfully increased the yield and efficiency of production in most agricultural species while utilizing land resources that are often unsuitable for other agricultural purposes. Moving forward, animal well-being and agricultural sustainability are moral and economic priorities of consumers and producers alike. Therefore, these considerations will be included in any strategy designed to meet the challenges produced by global climate change and an expanding world population. Improvements in the efficiency and precision of genetic technologies will enable a timely response to meet the multifaceted food requirements of a rapidly increasing world population.