Stem cell research, an all time controversial topic has witnessed a new development with the discovery of stem cell presence in the umbilical cord blood. Broadly classified into either adult or embryonic, stem cells have a remarkable potential of renewing themselves. Where the embryonic stem cells (ESC) possess a far greater differentiation potential in becoming the cell of any human body, the adult stem cells on the other hand are partly committed to different cell fates. However, scientists have been striving hard to reprogram the functionalities of adult cells thereby making these cells suitable for treating different diseases. The real challenge faced by the scientists is to collect adult stem cells, which is very rare in the mature tissues. But with the recent discovery about the existence of adult stem cells in umbilical cord blood, many doctors and researchers are now supporting the choice of banking it.
Umbilical cord and placenta which were thrown away post the child birth until recently, have now turned out to be of valuable resource for medical research and life saving treatments. Public and private banking choices are available for preserving the umbilical cord. Parents who can’t afford the expensive cord blood pricing of private banks can donate the valuable stem cell enriched cord blood to the public banks. Donated cord blood will be used for transplants and medical research purposes. Extracting the umbilical cord blood is a harmless procedure that neither harms the mother nor the new born. Storing the cord tissue and blood at a competitive cord blood pricing in private banks will be a long term investment for your child’s future.
If you are still wondering why save baby cord blood, here are some reasons you should know. Stem cells found in the cord blood have a remarkable potential to treat many forms of cancer, inherited metabolic disorders and other debilitating diseases. Even doctors prefer collecting cord blood as an alternative to bone marrow for stem cell transplant because it doesn’t require a perfect match and is less invasive. Families, especially with a genetic history of any sort of disorders are strongly advised to bank the umbilical cord tissue and blood. Stem cell research, being an ongoing field of research has been exploring groundbreaking ways to harness the healing power of cord blood.
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