What is the use of freezing stem cells?


Stem cells are an undifferentiated form of cells found in umbilical cord blood and bone marrow of an individual. Its extraction and harvesting from umbilical cord blood are done at the time of birth and the process is quite efficient and painless. On the other hand, its extraction from bone marrow is a painful medical process that requires surgery and other forms of complexities. The extracted cells are preserved using cryopreservatives and liquid nitrogen under temperature below -90-degree Celsius. The cryopreservation process is not universal as it varies from bank to bank. Freezing cord blood stem cells and its harvesting from bone marrow can be done in public cord blood banks as well as in private cord blood banks, both of them having their own pros and cons. Stem cells have been doing great service to the medical industry and have a splendid future. That makes us to understand the reasons why freezing stem cells umbilical cord is important.

The ability of stem cells to differentiate in other forms of cells
Stem cells being an undifferentiated form of cells differentiate to form other types of cells and further multiply as the same type. Stem cells found in bone marrow of an individual morph into RBC, WBC, and platelets, which serve in the treatment of many blood-related disorders. On the other hand, frozen cord blood stem cells can be used to treat many diseases by developing antibodies when injected into the bloodstream.

Biological insurance for the entire family
Stem cells found in umbilical cord blood lining work as biological insurance to the entire family. Using stem cells to treat diseases needs genetic similarity between the individuals. It is true that there is 100% chance of matching if an individual uses his/her own stem cell extracted from the umbilical cord, but the probability of 100% match is ¼ and for a match which is enough similar to be used is ½ among the siblings. It, therefore, becomes highly important to preserve cord blood cells of all the siblings as they share common genetic material inherited from the same parent. It should be kept in mind that all of these can be achieved only when the stem cells are banked in private cord blood banks and not in public banks because private cord blood banks though charge fee but also give the individual’s family full right over the preserved cells, which the public banks don’t offer.

For future research
Preserving stem cells not only serves the individual whose stem cells are preserved but also serves the society as a whole. Stem cells are not preserved only for treatment of diseases and other therapies but also for research purpose. And this has been entailing positive results, owing to which tons of investment are being taken in this field. Currently, stem cell therapies treat more than 80 diseases, which includes some of the deadly diseases like blood cancers, sickle-cell anemia etc. Stem cells are also used to repair worn out cells and tissues which reduces the drug dependability of the patient. The future of stem cells rests in a beautiful horizon, we just need to look beyond that. It is also necessary to crush the myths, which restricts the progress of cord blood banking.

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