By Kevin Anderson
As soon as a new baby is born, the umbilical cord that connects the baby to
the mother is discarded. During pregnancy, this cord is the main source of
nutrition for the baby but on delivery this tissue mass is cut and discarded.
This is now changing since the time researchers have realized that umbilical
cord blood is a major source of stem cells. Stem cells are unspecialized blood
cells that produce all other blood cells, including blood-clotting platelets and
red and white blood cells. These stem cells are essential to help regenerate
blood in the human body. It is an effective cure for diseases that create a
blood or immune disorder.
Today, there are over 45 genetic diseases that have been identified as being
curable by stem cell transplant. Umbilical cord blood is used in this transplant
just like bone marrow. The only difference is that unlike a bone marrow
transplant, the umbilical cord blood is of one's own self and is easier to match
with the body. When high amount of radiation or cancer-killing drugs destroy the
stem cells of the affected patients, stem cells can help rebuild the supply.
Umbilical cord blood is very small in volume, measuring only about 90ml. It
has to be extracted immediately after the birth of the child and is stored
cryogenically by private or public banks in the same manner as normal blood
banks do. The blood is stored only with parental consent and can be kept for
private as well as donated to a public bank. Since cord blood use for stem cell
regeneration might be more effective and cheaper than using bone marrow an
attempt is also being made to develop a cord blood donation program much like
the bone marrow donor program.
Kevin Anderson is the owner and operator of http://www.cord-blood-resources.info a site developed to give
users the most updated information, articles, and news related to the Cord Blood
and stem cell research.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
