I read on internet that people in some developed country are keeping the baby cord blood cells in a special blood bank for the future. Is it necessary? what are the benefits?
2007-01-11 15:26:24 · 4 answers · asked by hkyeo129 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Community Service
Umbilical cords contain stem cells that can be used in the treatment of diseases such as leukemia, cancer, blood diseases, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, and various hereditary conditions and immune system disorders, in case the baby ever develops any of these diseases. While cancer can genetically alter cells, it does not affect stem cells in the umbilical cord blood which were collected before changes occur in their genetic make-up. By preserving the stem cells in the umbilical cord, you have a guaranteed source of perfectly matched cells in case a life-threatening illness develops.
2007-01-11 15:55:28 · answer #1 · answered by magistra_linguae 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Cells in our body go through a process of differentiation meaning they 'choose' a type to be and once they are that type they can't be used to make any other cell type. A heart cell for example won't work as a nerve cell. However we all started from two cells - an ovum and a sperm. These are the ultimate pluripotent cells meaning when joined they have the ability to create all the cell types to make all the parts of us. Cord blood has these pluripotent cells and can be used, if needed, to make any types of cells theoretically.
There are many people against the use of cord blood saying that science can't really use these cells to make new 'bits'. Also if you think about it, if the diease is genetic then all your cells, including these 'magic' cells will have the mutation and won't help at all.
I think new parents just feel that it's nice to have this emergency reserve of cells; like an insurance policy for their newborns, but from what I can tell, the only ones really enjoying the benefits of this new technology are the banks that charge thousands of dollars to store a few vials of cells for long periods of time.
2007-01-11 23:39:20 · answer #2 · answered by avishtevi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are many advantages of saving your baby's umbilical cord blood. Stem cells, which are obtained from a baby’s umbilical cord blood have powers to repair and regenerate body tissues and organs, which helps to treat 80 life threatening diseases like Autism, Leukaemia, Inherited Metabolic Disorders, etc.
2014-07-11 07:58:24 · answer #3 · answered by Jazz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they do it because they think it can be of some help if later on in the future, their child develops cancer or some other awful disease. The people that promote saving cord blood say that lives can be saved with this blood. I don't know one way or another.
2007-01-11 23:54:32 · answer #4 · answered by valkyria 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋