The partial protective role of ALDH1A1 in HSC biology suggests that it may have a similar role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) which is a bone marrow malignancy of the myeloid line of blood cells; an abnormal clone that develops from either a myeloid progenitor cell or a myeloblast can give rise to AML, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that build up in the bone marrow and blood and interfere with normal blood cell production. The gene discussed is ALDH1A1; the disease is acute myeloid leukemia.