Stem cells are precursor cells which mean they are primary cells that can differentiate to form mature or adult cells of different types. In humans, there are two types of stem cells:

• Embryonic stem cells- are found in an embryo and later differentiate into different forms of tissues as the embryo develops.
• Adult stem cells- are found in adult tissue which differentiate and help in replacing dead cells in the body.

The stem cells, because they have the capacity of forming new cells, are used in treating many diseases, some of which had no cure in earlier times. In today’s world, as many as 70 different diseases can be treated by the help of stem cells. Some of the diseases that can be treated with stem cells include many cancers, blood disorders, metabolic disorders, stem cell disorders, etc.

Sometimes the use of embryonic stem cells is widely opposed when it involves the destruction of the embryo. For these reasons, adult stem cells are the ones that are utilized in treating various conditions. Adult stem cells can be obtained from bone marrow or from cord blood (the blood that is found in the umbilical cord just after the delivery of the child) and from the placenta. These stem cells can not only be used to treat conditions that arise in the child but can also be used to treat some conditions that occur in other siblings, parents, other relatives and in some cases even unrelated people.

Cord blood and the placenta contain stem cells that are similar to stem cells found in bone marrow. Obtaining the cord blood and placenta is a one time opportunity that can be collected only at the time of delivery of a child and can be processed and preserved by keeping them in liquid nitrogen.

Stem cell preservation has to be planned much prior to delivery of the child. There are many cell banks that have been established to undertake this process and store and preserve the cells such that they are viable and useful for therapy, if the need arises at a later point of time.

Once a cord blood bank has been chosen for stem cell preservation, all the formalities for collection at birth should be completed beforehand. Just before delivery, two test tubes of blood are drawn from the mother and sent for testing for any communicable diseases. At the time of delivery, the doctor extracts the cord blood (around 75-100ml) and the placenta and sends the cord blood to the cord blood bank in special collection bags designed for this purpose.

Once the cord blood and the placenta reach the cell bank, it is disinfected, processed and a cryopreservative is added. Some cord blood banks utilize a method of separating the red blood cells in the cord blood while some don’t.

Once these processes are complete, the stem cells are tested for their viability by performing tests. The stem cell preservation is then begun by slow cooling first to around -90 degrees and then placed in liquid nitrogen where the temperature is maintained at -190 degrees Celsius. The viability of the cells will be lost if they are cooled too rapidly.

This is the method in which stem cell preservation is conducted, and preserved stem cells can be later taken if needed for therapy at any point in time. This process even though costly at this time is insurance that can store stem cells to fall back on if the need for future therapy arises.

Stem Cells are referred to as progenitor cells meaning that they form the origin for different forms of adult cells. A broad classification of stem cells can be made into two types:

• Embryonic stem cells are found in a budding embryo and help in forming tissues as they differentiate.
• Adult stem cells are mainly repair cells that help in repair and regeneration of lost cells.

The capacity of stem cells to differentiate into adult cells have been utilized in modern day medicine to control and cure diseases, many of which were thought incurable a few years ago. Stem cells have helped in generating a cure for an astonishing 70 diseases and the list is growing every day.

There is controversy and opposition from several quarters to the use of embryonic stems cells, both for therapy as well as for scientific purposes. This is because to isolate the embryonic stem cells, the embryo may have to be destroyed. For this reason, adult stem cells are preferred for use. These are harvested either through the bone marrow or from blood drawn through the umbilical cord during child birth. The placenta is another source for the stem cells.

These days due to the advent of newer methods of therapy using stem cells, there are many stem cell banks that have emerged all over the world which deal in stem cell preservation. There are many public and private cord blood banks available. Public cord blood banks do not preserve the stem cells for the particular person from whom they are being derived but hold it for public use, as in organ banks. A private cord blood bank performs stem cell preservation for the use of the family undertaking this service, for a particular fee.

The cord blood and the placenta that is available during the delivery of a child contains viable stem cells if the collected blood is of an adequate quantity (about 75ml at least). This collection is performed by the medical team involved in the child delivery and sent by prior arrangement in a specialized bag to the cord blood bank for processing and stem cell preservation.

Once the bags containing the blood and the placenta reach the cord blood bank, they undergo various processes for disinfection, processing to obtain the stem cells, and addition of a cryopreservative to help the stem cells remain viable. The processing of the cord blood is done either by a separation of red blood cells or by keeping them intact with the specimen.

The blood derived from the mother before delivery and the cord blood are both tested for the presence of communicable diseases. After the preservative is added, the process of stem cell preservation is begun by a slow cooling process which is necessary to maintain the stem cells intact. This slow cooling is performed by maintaining the temperature first at -90 degrees and then slowly to -190 degrees by placing the stem cells in liquid nitrogen.

The stem cell preservation in liquid nitrogen helps cells remain useful for therapy in the future. This process of stem cell preservation not only helps the individual to fight some disorder if it arises, but it also helps other members in the family too if they need the stem cells for therapy.

Currently there are 70 diseases that are treatable with stem cells. A generation ago or a decade ago, these diseases presented a poor prognosis for those diagnosed with them. Today, there is hope in stem cell preservation and stem cell research, but stem cell research is a controversial topic and an end to the debate is nowhere in sight. So what exactly is at debate? Why are emotions so torn when stem cell preservation could save lives?

There are two types of stem cells: adult and embryonic. Adult stem cells can be found in the bone marrow of the adult. Harvesting and preserving adult stem cells are not controversial. Instead, people embrace this research and look to it with hope. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, present a host of ethical concerns and issues sometimes disturbing the public.

Why? While it’s true that stem cells can be harvested from the umbilical cord, these stem cells are adult stem cells. In order to harvest embryonic stem cells, an in vitro procedure is performed which ultimately destroys the embryo and all chances for its survival. This lethal procedure is what is at the heart of the stem cell preservation debate. So why don’t scientists concentrate on harvesting adult stem cells and leave the embryonic ones alone?

Adult Stem Cells vs. Embryonic Stem Cells
Not all stem cells are created equal. There are actually three classifications of stem cells each with its own healing powers. For the purpose of this article, we are going to focus on two such classifications.

Embryonic stem cells are the most commonly used stem cells. Why? They are totipotent meaning that they are able to reproduce every type of cell found in the body. They are even capable of forming and entire organism. These cells are the miraculous life savers that offer the most hope to patients dying of certain diseases. Embryonic stem cells also inhibit the body’s immune response which means that there is less chance of rejection after a transplant.

Adult stem cells are multipotent which means that they are able to reproduce only a limited number of cell types. This means that their use in finding certain cures is limited. They are also difficult to harvest and pose many concerns including rejection.

There is no doubt that embryonic stem cell preservation can save lives, but is it at the cost of a human life. Granted, harvesting of stem cells occurs when the embryo is still a collection of cells.  But then the debate rages. When does life begin?