Stem cells, in general terms, represent the buds of all of the organ cells in the body. If the body had its own tool shed, it would have racks of these minute particles for all organs. In such a tool shed, you would only need to have one specimen of stem cell, because any time the cell divides, it creates more that have the equal power as the original cell, to remain a stem cell or become specialized for a particular organ. This is true for all stem cells except for blood, muscle, and nerve, which do not normally replicate themselves. To understand this point, it is important to learn about the types of these cells by purpose.

Types

The chief types are:

Pluripotent

Stromal

Hematopoietic

Pluripotent are capable of turning into any kind of cell making up the body. They are chiefly derived from human embryonic stem cells. In comparison, adult cells are capable of replicating themselves into more cells for the same purpose as the original cells in order to repair the organ tissue where they reside.

Stromal are a kind of cells that form bone, cartilage, fat, and fibrous connective tissue.

Hematopoietic create red and white blood cells and platelets. The latest research has shown some promise of hemapoietic capability to form other cells in the body in addition to blood cells. This type is found in baby cord blood and adult bone marrow.

Cord blood Stem cells

So what role does umbilical blood play. It is a rich repository of blood stem cells that can differentiate to create red and white blood cells and platelets, which are crucial in treating genetic diseases, cancers, and disorders of blood and immune system.

Compared to bone marrow, cord blood stem cells are easier to harvest because they are easily obtainable from placenta after delivery and so do not involve a surgical procedure. They can be put in a cord blood bank and easily prepared for use either for the donor or another recipient regardless of relationship.

Cord blood has already proven successful in treating leukemia, anemia, neuroblastoma, lymphoma, and many other blood and immune system diseases, cancers, and disorders. Scientists had been skeptical about using this blood on the sickened donors because of the bloods established genetic predisposition to become diseased, but recently Illinois doctors successfully treated leukemia through this route, proving the much anticipated fruitfulness of the banking cord blood.