Findings of cord blood
research.

The importance of umbilical cord blood.

Umbilical cord blood research has already unturned a number of distinct advantages to using cord blood in stem cell transplants and it appears there are a great many more advantages that doctors and scientists have yet to discover. Umbilical cord blood contains primitive stem cells that can be used in place of bone marrow and other sources of stem cells to treat diseases caused by the degeneration of blood cells or bone marrow. Previously, the only way to treat these diseases has been through the use of combination drugs, intensive treatments and bone marrow transplants. Umbilical cord blood transplant has a lot to offer the world of medical science and as yet we have only touched on the surface of this.

Stem cells are the building blocks of our body.

Stem cells are the building blocks of our body. They can grow and regenerate any of the different types of cells and tissue that are found within the human body. At their most primitive, stem cells can become any of these cells, although the less primitive adult stem cells do not show the same level of plasticity associated with their primitive counterparts. The lack of plasticity in adult stem cells means that the cells have already taken on a particular role within the body and will be unable to form any other kind of cell, although some stem cell research is concentrated on finding ways to alter adult stem cells to perform various other tasks.

Primitive stem cells can become any cell in our body.

On the other hand, primitive stem cells can grow into liver cells, blood cells and any other cells within the body but they can do more than just this. They are also able to regenerate and create more of themselves. This means that stem cells can help the body rejuvenate from illness while rejuvenating themselves. The potential of stem cells, in particular primitive stem cells, is all too apparent. This is where stem cell research is proving invaluable. Already, 2000 patients have successfully received stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood and for more than 30 years patients have been receiving bone marrow transplants, but doctors and researchers believe that this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to transplanting healthy stem cells.

Therapeutic cloning has been met by stiff resistance.

If you've read the New York Times and stem cells has been one of the topics you have been interested in you will know by now that not all of the procedures surrounding the extraction and transplanting of stem cells are popular ones.

One advance that has already been discovered is therapeutic cloning. This is the cloning of embryos, which contain the most primitive form of stem cells available, within a laboratory environment. The DNA from the original parents is completely removed leaving a blank embryo. This embryo is then cloned giving potentially thousands of usable embryos and the stem cells they create. When a patient needs a stem cell transfusion the embryo can be injected with the DNA of the patient ensuring that the two are perfectly matched. This would completely dispose of the need for bone marrow transplants and help save the lives of tens of thousands of patients who currently go untreated because of the shortage of bone marrow donors. However, the procedure is looked on as being unethical by pro-life campaigners and so the entire process has been met by resistance from many parties. However, in order to look for the answer to the question 'can stem cells be created naturally' it looks increasingly likely that we will need to look into more controversial methods such as embryonic stem cell transplants.

The continuation of cord blood research.

Cord blood research continues on the viability of the blood taken from umbilical cords and placentas and while doctors know that the stem cells removed from cord blood are exceptionally useful in place of bone marrow transplants they are also aware that there are many more possibilities concerned with their use. Blunt stainless steel needles collect stem cells from bone marrow, making it a very painful experience for the donor.

Treating diseases that are not related to bone marrow or the blood is one such avenue and testing has shown positive results with other diseases such as congenital heart failure. Because the extraction of cord and placenta blood poses no risk to parent or baby, cord blood research can continue unabated by protest.

More