Now more than ever, thrombotic and thromboembolic disorders as well as related diseases such as malignancies, arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. They have become urgent medical problems with serious economic consequences in industrialized and devel- ing countries alike. At the same time, the impact of molecular biology and genetics on our understanding of thrombosis and hemostasis is rapidly growing stronger as well as our knowledge of regeneration and development of specific tissues, organs, and embryos....