We’ve heard about stem cells and their growing importance. What exactly are they, though? Here’s a short guide for you to better understand the basics of stem cells and why they’re important for your baby and your family.
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are unique as they are unspecialized cells. This means that they can develop and differentiate into many different types of cells, if required. They act as a repair system for the body internally, and can divide almost without limit to replenish cells as and when required.
Stem cells are different from other kinds of cells in two main ways:
1. They are unspecialized cells and can renew themselves by cell division, almost indefinitely. They can also start activity after long periods of dormancy, hence can be preserved for a long time.
2. In certain conditions, they can be induced to become different types of cells. These could be tissue specific or organ specific, for various different functions. Sometimes, organs like the gut and bone marrow contain stem cells which divide into new cells. These new cells repair and replenish the older, damaged cells.
Why should you preserve Stem Cells?
As you can imagine, this has wide ranging applications in the medical field. As stem cells can be induced to transmute into different kinds of cells, they can be used to treat a variety of diseases. As of now, there is a lot of experimental work being done in this field by utilizing stem cells, but it is growing by leaps and bounds. It is an important part of contemporary biological research. Scientists and doctors are researching the applications of stem cellsfor treatment of diseases like spinal cord injury, brain injury, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, Cerebral Palsy, Alzheimer’s,and many more.
Umbilical Cord Stem Cells
After your baby is born, you can choose to preserve their umbilical cord blood and tissue. These are rich in stem cells, which have a variety of application for the future of your baby and your family.They can be used to treat a variety of blood disorders like Leukemia, Myeloma, Thalassemia and sickle cell disease. It also has oncological applications.
There are stem cell donors globally, but finding your correct HLA type match might be difficult. It is thus better to save your baby’s stem cell, as their own cells can be used at any point of time for them as well as the family. It is a preventative measure that ensures that a perfect match is immediately available for any requirement.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy is a new form of treatment that uses stem cells to repair and regenerate any damaged cells or tissues. It is part of an exciting new field called regenerative medicine.
