ABSTRACT
Political and ethical controversy surrounds the use of embryonic stem cells, and significant biological and regulatory concerns limit their clinical use. Stem cells can be found throughout the body, being present in many tissues and organs. Stem cells can be isolated from the heretofore waste products of birth being created in laboratory. The blood in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of a child is comparable to bone marrow for use in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and offers a number of advantages. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are thought of as being non-hematopoietic cells with multi-lineage potential that hold great promise for regenerative medicine. An additional source of stem cells that can be simultaneously obtained at birth is the cord tissue itself, which is a ready source of MSCs. Cord blood is unique in that it contains hematologic stem cells and thus may be used to reconstitute the blood and immune system after chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell transplant.
