There is a lot of research going on as to the potentials of stem cell therapy. Degenerative diseases of the heart, brain, liver and other organs and tissues are the main target in the so-called regenerative medicine. Stem cells are the most important tools in regenerative medicine.
Many families have decided to bank their baby umbilical cord blood stem cell on the awareness of the future potentials of cell therapy.
On the other hand, expectant parents who have a family history of certain genetic diseases, such as severe anemia, immune disorders or some cancers, may want to consider the family benefit of storing cord blood. Most families have no such risk factors, and only about a 1-in-20,000 chance of needing a stem cell transplantation. On the other hand it can painful and difficult to find a match sample shall a patient need bone marrow transplantation.
Families can get complete information and counseling from health care providers, including genetic counselors. Families who want to donate their babys cord blood to a public bank for use by others should be fully informed of their responsibilities and other implications of such donations.
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© 2006 Cryopraxis Cryobiology
