Umbilical cord blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells. These are not the same as embryonic stem cells which have so much controversy surrounding them. Embryonic stem cells come from early embryos. These stem cells may transform into virtually any type of cell imaginable. However, the embryo must be destroyed in order to retrieve the stem cells.
In contrast, umbilical cord blood contains stem cells that can become red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The umbilical cord will be discarded after the birth of the baby so nothing is really lost by saving it. Most medical professionals feel that there is only something to be gained by saving umbilical cord blood.
Due to the limitations on what the cord blood stem cells can transform into, they can only be used to treat specific diseases. Namely, those of the blood or immune system.
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