| Medical science is doing wonders by means of its | | | | rheumatoid arthritis, to name a few, can be cured using |
| inventions and its proper application. It has enabled | | | | cord blood. Stem cells form part of our blood and |
| mankind to show his mastery over the god. The | | | | immune system and they help to grow other cells in |
| medical professionals are curing a number of people | | | | our body's system. Thus it is expected to be a cure |
| of their diseases and giving them a new lease of life | | | | for cancer also. |
| everyday. A man can change his god-gifted features | | | | The most striking feature that has made the invention |
| wishfully with the help of science. Even gender change | | | | more useful is the capacity of storing the cord blood. |
| is no longer a matter of surprise and awe. So man is | | | | There are banking facilities where the parents can |
| seen defying their god in a way. But still he is unable to | | | | store the blood. If the first child of a couple is suffering |
| conquer the place occupied by the almighty God; he | | | | from a blood disorder or any other disease that stem |
| cannot impart life to all persons who are destined die. | | | | cell can cure, and the mother is expecting her second |
| There are many such avenues left that are to be | | | | child, she could store her cord blood. This blood has the |
| ventured by man. So, day-by-day man is trying to | | | | quality to cure her first thalassemic child. Number of |
| reach the ultimate knowledge. | | | | couples is storing their cord blood for any future need. |
| Of late, a striking invention of medical science has | | | | The parents who decide to store the cord blood have |
| made man to see a ray of hope. Patients of incurable | | | | to undergo a proper HLA (human leukocyte antigen) |
| diseases have to undergo very painful process to | | | | match. It is a procedure through which the immune |
| continue their life. The patients of Thalassemia have to | | | | system recognizes 'self' and rejects 'non-self' cell, then |
| live on blood transfusion throughout their life. But the | | | | the stem cell is transplanted into the patient's body. |
| invention of the procedure to cure blood disorder has | | | | There are mainly three kinds of stem cell |
| shown its patients a gleaming horizon. | | | | transplantation namely adult stem cells, embryonic |
| The doctors claims that the cord blood or can be | | | | stem cells and cord blood cells. Here one caveat is |
| better explained as the blood collected from the | | | | that the stem cells taken from adult bone marrow or |
| umbilical cord of a woman, soon after her second | | | | peripheral blood stem cells are prone to rejection while |
| delivery , can save her first thalassemic born child. This | | | | cord blood stem cells are more adaptable and |
| blood is collected after the umbilical cord has been | | | | acceptable. However in India, the adult stem cells are |
| severed from the new-born. The cord blood is a rich | | | | mainly collected from bone marrow. For bone marrow, |
| source of stem cell. These cells are found at different | | | | a perfect 6 out of 6 HLA match is required to prevent |
| stages of foetal development. Stem cells are also | | | | tissue rejection. But in case of cord blood stem cells |
| present in several adult tissues. It has the potentials to | | | | for some diseases even 2 out of 6 match will suffice, |
| cure almost 75 serious ailments, from blood disorder to | | | | but the chance is rare as the cord blood is collected |
| heart and eye ailment to Type 1 diabetes. Diseases | | | | immediately after birth. |
| such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, | | | | |