STEM CELLS
Stem cells are “mother cells” (undifferentiated or immature) which have not yet undergone the transformation processes into the specialised cells which make up the various human organs and tissues.
Stem cells remain undifferentiated or immature until a specific stimulus occurs which induces them to turn into cells specialised in a specific function (i.e. becoming organ or tissue cells).
Stem cells are either embryonic or adult:
- embryonic stem cells are found in the embryo until the fourth day after conception; they are toti-potent, which means that they can produce any type of specialised cell
- adult stem cells are found in the blood in the umbilical cord, in the bone marrow, in peripheral blood, in the amniotic liquid and fat tissue; they are multi-potent, which means that they can turn into some type of specialised cells
They are adult stem cells which can turn into the various blood cells, as well as those of the nerve, cardiac, pancreatic and epithelial tissue.
They are collected at the time of childbirth, either natural or C-section, by extracting the blood from the placenta and umbilical cord which has just been cut. The procedure is safe and painless, both for the mother and for the newborn, because it takes place during the phase before the cord and placenta are disposed of.
- embryonic stem cells are found in the embryo until the fourth day after conception; they are toti-potent, which means that they can produce any type of specialised cell
- adult stem cells are found in the blood in the umbilical cord, in the bone marrow, in peripheral blood, in the amniotic liquid and fat tissue; they are multi-potent, which means that they can turn into some type of specialised cells
Umbilical cord stem cells
They are adult stem cells which can turn into the various blood cells, as well as those of the nerve, cardiac, pancreatic and epithelial tissue.
They are collected at the time of childbirth, either natural or C-section, by extracting the blood from the placenta and umbilical cord which has just been cut. The procedure is safe and painless, both for the mother and for the newborn, because it takes place during the phase before the cord and placenta are disposed of.
