The present invention relates to novel human hiwi protein and genes that encode
such proteins. The invention is directed toward the isolation and characterization
of human hiwi proteins. The invention specifically provides isolated complementary
DNA copies of mRNA corresponding a human hiwi gene. Also provided are recombinant
expression constructs capable of expressing the human hiwi gene of the invention
in cultures of transformed prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as such cultures
of transformed cells that synthesize the human hiwi proteins encoded therein. The
invention also provides methods for isolating human hematopoietic stem cells.
