Now scientists have reported that cord blood cells taken from a donor were present in the failing organs of a recipient.

Cord blood cells are stem cells that come from the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby is born.

 

They are used in medicine in much the same way as bone marrow, but with a smaller chance of rejection.  In this case, the cord blood cells had actually transformed into heart muscle cells known as myocytes.

Although the data does not prove the cord blood cells actually stopped heart damage from progressing, the findings are compelling.

Cord blood is an excellent alternative to bone marrow transplantation in treating leukemia and cancers in children and it does not have the compatibility problems when matching donors with recipients.

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