What Are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are the body's "parent cells”. They create all other tissues, organs, and systems in the body. Ongoing stem cell research is generating increasing knowledge about how healthy cells can develop and replace damaged cells. Because they have the unique ability to either multiply or develop into other cell types, stem cells hold the potential for treating and curing some of the most common diseases such as heart disease, cancers, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.

There are basically two different types of stem cells:

• Adult Stem Cells: Undifferentiated stem cell found in specialized tissues that can self renew and give rise to differentiated cells such as skin, neurons and hematopoietic cells. Adult stem cells are found in bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and circulating peripheral blood.
• Embryonic Stem Cells: Derived from an embryo and capable of giving rise to most, but not all tissues of an organism. They are highly controversial and often at the heart of many ethical debates.

What are umbilical cord blood stem cells?

Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are the key building blocks of the blood and immune system. Cord blood stem cells are the origin of white blood cells that fight infection, red blood cells that carry oxygen to all the cells in the body and platelets that promote clotting and healing.

A baby's umbilical cord blood is a valuable source of stem cells, which are genetically unique to your baby and family. Until recently, the potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells remained unrecognized and these valuable stem cells were discarded without a second thought. Today, doctors worldwide recognize that cord blood stem cells can help generate healthy new cells and tissue and aid in the treatment of numerous diseases.

Umbilical cord blood offers a perfectly natural, controversy-free method of acquiring stem cells and has become a major source of hematopoietic (blood) stem cells for transplantation. Currently, one of the main applications of umbilical cord blood stem cells is to help regenerate a patient’s blood and immune system that have been weakened or damaged by radiation or chemotherapy.

Cord blood stem cells have successfully treated children and adults and are now used in the treatment of more than 45 disorders. Collected and stored cord blood stem cells is readily available when needed, they are a perfect match for your baby and have up to 75% chance of being a match for your baby’s siblings. In addition, a related source of stem cells, such as cord blood, is always the preferred treatment option.

For additional information contact a cord blood educator at   800-490-CORD (2673) or click here