tem cells are back in the news again as scientists working with embryonic stem cells ­ the cells, which can become all of the various specialized cells of a body- make exciting breakthroughs. However, this research has led to a national debate as Americans argue the ethical pros and cons of working with the seeds of life.

Fortunately, there are non-embryonic stem cells, which are easily obtained, versatile, and are now being used to treat about 46 medical conditions­ with more applications to come.

The source of these stem cells is the blood from babies' umbilical cords. At birth, after the umbilical cord has been cut and clamped, the blood can be removed and the stem cells can be isolated and stored indefinitely. If the child or a family member develops cancer or a blood disorder in the future, the stored stem cells may provide the best treatment, offering the best chance of survival.

Currently, Cord Blood Registry is storing the cord blood stem cells from 33,000 newborns from all over the world in their Tucson, Arizona laboratory. Thousands of families are now choosing to bank their newborn's cord blood because of the future benefit stem cells can offer.

Today, these cord blood stem cells are used to reconstitute a body's blood supply. More than 2,000 cord blood transplants have been performed so far. The future offers exciting new possibilities.

In the area of neurons and nerves, scientists in 2001 partially reversed the effects of a stroke in rats by injecting cord blood stem cells. Later, other researchers found that cord blood stem cells could be induced to change into neurons. These developments offer hope that cord blood stem cells could one day be used to treat neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's, as well as repair spinal cord damage and brains damaged by stroke.

Research is also being conducted into the use of cord blood stem cells to repair heart muscle, grow corneas, and conduct gene therapy. There's also potential to treat diabetes, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and liver disease.

With all these known possibilities, it's likely that doctors and parents alike will think twice before discarding umbilical cord blood in the coming years. This blood is truly babies' gift to themselves and the rest of the world.

Visit www.cordblood.com for more information.