Stem Cells Discussion
The advancement of technology led to various breakthroughs in the field of medicine. One of the discoveries was the ability to use stem cells in the treatment of multiple diseases. Specifically, the ability to remove stem cells from human embryos came as a relieve towards the treatment of various diseases. However, a debate ensued after that concerning the process (Volarevic et al. 2018). One side of the debate believes that the method should be adopted for its benefits, while the other side believes that destroying human embryos is unethical.
Leukemia is characterized by the inability of bone marrow cells to make blood. Stem cells are used to replace leukemia cells in the bone marrow through transplant (Ho et al. 2016). The cells used for the transplant can be obtained from the blood of the patient or a donor. Chemotherapy is first applied in high doses to kill the leukemia cells before transplantation is done.
Cord blood contains large amounts of stem cells. The stem cells can be used to treat a variety of diseases such as leukemia and sickle-cell anemia (Blanco, 2016). Also, cord blood can be a source of stem cells to be used in the treatment of lymphoma and other types of immunity and blood disorders. Therefore, parents choose to save cord blood as a precautionary measure in case their child is found to have such diseases as leukemia, or for donation purposes. Generally, Stem cells from the umbilical cord do not involve destroying the embryo.
Saving cord blood may cost less when public banking systems are available. However, not everyone can access free public banking systems (Devi, 2016). Private cord blood banking systems are expensive but offer quality services. In the US, for example, the cost of saving cord blood ranges between $1495 and $2425 for private banking systems. Besides, the mothers who intend to save their cord blood have to go through a series of tests that increase the costs.
References
Blanco, J. (2016). Saving Cord Blood and Saving Lives?.
Devi, K. N. (2016). Cord Blood Banking. International Journal of Nursing Education, 8(3).
Ho, T. C., LaMere, M., Stevens, B. M., Ashton, J. M., Myers, J. R., O’Dwyer, K. M., … & Zhao, J. (2016). Evolution of acute myelogenous leukemia stem cell properties after treatment and progression. Blood, 128(13), 1671-1678.
Volarevic, V., Markovic, B. S., Gazdic, M., Volarevic, A., Jovicic, N., Arsenijevic, N., … & Stojkovic, M. (2018). Ethical and safety issues of stem cell-based therapy. International journal of medical sciences, 15(1), 36.