| Stem
cells are a unique type of growth cell, the original building
blocks of life for the developing embryo in the womb. They
turn into the different types of cells needed to make up the
child, from heart muscles and skin tissues to red blood cells.
What
illnesses can stem cell treat?
The main use
so far has been childhood leukaemia and some other cancers,
but potentially these cells could be used to treat illnesses
such as diabetes, strokes, multiple sclerosis, brain &
muscle diseases, Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases.
It is the
renewing properties of stem cells which allows them to be
used as a treatment. The diseased cells must be completely
removed by chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy. The
umbilical cord stem cell can then be given intravenously
to the patient and they will build a complete new blood system
and maintain it for years to come.
Matching
within family?
There is a
one in four (1:4) chance that siblings will match. This ratio
goes up exponentially for parents and grandparents.
The
difference between cord blood stem cells, embryonic stem cells,
and bone marrow stem cells?
Stem cells
from the umbilical cord are more flexible than stem cells
taken from an adults bone marrow. Umbilical cord blood stem
cells are the predecessors of adult stem cells, and have the
ability to divide into each type of cell, whereas bone marrow
stem cells may have a more difficult time dividing.
Umbilical
cord blood stem cells have a greater repopulating potential
than bone marrow stem cells.
Bone marrow
and peripheral blood stem cell collection are painful and
complicated procedures.There are also many instances when
bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell cannot be used,
which would mean finding a donor.
Embryonic
stem cell are cells that are taken from a 0-14 day old embryo.
They are the richest form of stem cell but are associated
with many ethical, religious, and legal issues.
There is confusion
as to the source of stem cells and these sources are very
different. Embryonic stem cells are a completely different
set of cells compared to umbilical cord blood stem cells and
they are regulated by the government. At the scientific level
the concepts are similar but embryonic stem cells raise many
legal, ethical and moral questions which umbilical cord stem
cells do not.
Is it possible to obtain stem cells later in life?
Yes, stem
cells can be found in our bone marrow where they continue
to generate new blood cells throughout our lives. But cord
blood stem cells have a number of important advantages over
bone marrow. Cord blood stem cells are easier to obtain than
stem cells from bone marrow, and treatments using cord blood
stem cells can be less costly than bone marrow transplants.
Additionally, the collection of cord blood is a quick, non-invasive
and painless procedure with no risk to the mother or newborn.
More important, however, is the fact that cord blood stem
cells are a perfect match for the child they are collected
from, thus eliminating the difficult process of finding a
matching donor and minimizing the risks of rejection. Umbilical
cord blood stem cells have a 1:4 (25%) chance of being an
exact cell match for a sibling.
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