• Question: how can stem cells be taken from a baby to cure illnesses?

    Asked by penguin27 to Emma, James, Jayne, Kara, Sharon on 15 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sharon Sneddon

      Sharon Sneddon answered on 14 Mar 2011:

      Hi Penguin.
      When babies are born, they are attached to the mum by the umbilical cord ( this is what leaves you with your belly button after it’s cut!) The umbilical cord has stem cells inside it and these can be removed once the cord is cut and used for transplanting into other people. This can cure a few illnesses and diseases.

      Is that what you mean?

    • Photo: Emma King

      Emma King answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      Hi Penguin27 – I don’t think that I really understand your question as it depends what you mean by a ‘baby’.
      We use embryonic stem cells which come from the very early embryo because these cells have the potential to develop into all the cells of the body so they are really useful for research. Although we use embryos they are not babies because we use them at such an early stage and they would never be re-implanted into a womb to allow them to grow.
      We also use stem cells from umbilical cords after a baby is born. These cells are like adult stem cells so they aren’t quite as good as embryonic but they are still used a lot – especially for making blood cells. Some parents bank their child’s cord blood in case it can be used to treat the child in the future.
      Although it’s very rare there is also something called a saviour sibling – which is when an embryo is specially selected to have the same tissue type as a living child – and is then implanted into the womb and allowed to grow into a baby. Then they can use the cord blood from that baby or sometimes other tissue donations to save the sibling.
      I hope that answers your question?

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