Yes, the stem cells and the Virgin!
Mental note: Stem cells – a kind of cells in human (also in animal) body that have the possibility to develop and differentiate in almost any kind of tissue. There is few types of stem cells depending on the range of possible destiny cells and the source of origin. The kind that has most potential directions of development is the most rare, people know so far only two sources of them: embryo cells and umbilical cord stem cells. It has also been proven that multipotential (less options) stem cells are present in adult organisms (e.g. in bone marrow which produces blood cells) but their range of development is pretty narrow.
These cells bring huge hope for treatment of many diseases and recovery of lost fragments of tissue/organs. Embryo-derived stem cells also bring large ethical debates – the unanswered problem of when life starts and from what moment developing fetus can be called human, which brings us to problem of offering life to one person in the price of killing another one and so on.
On the other hand stem cells derived from umbilical cord do not pose any ethical worries since they’ve been discovered. They are the baby’s stem cells (the fetus has lots of them, some have been documented to go to mothers organism and settle in many different location, giving natural help with replacement of lost cells!!!). They give the same hope to be used in treatment.
The ‘catch’ is that stem cell from one organism is not always suitable for the other. It is the same as in transplantations. So baby’s stem cells are most suitable for itself. They can also match family and some other people by chance.
Following the above facts stem cells’ banks have been created. They store the stem cells taken during the pregnancy frozen in liquid nitrogen in case the ‘owners’ need them.
Mental note: Virgin – property of Richard Branson, more famous for investing in planes, trains and music through Virgin Group.
On February the 1st Richard Branson announced opening of Virgin Health Bank taking the first step into the health care industry. For as much as £1,500 parents can subscribe to the program. If they do in first minutes of the birth blood will be drawn from placenta and umbilical cord and transported to Virgin Health Bank facilities. Then the stem cell will be isolated, examined and frozen.
Their amount will be divided into halves. One half will be frozen in the private bank ready to be used by the baby if it ever needs it. The other half will go to the public bank and become available for anyone matching it.
Despite the fact that such practise is becoming popular in countries like Japan or US, there is still a problem of matching many individuals, especially from ethnic minorities. In this fiels Richard Branson finds his nische. His aim is to increase the number of cell tissue types that will become available.
Although Virign Health Bank is focused on treatment of blood disorders (for which many methods has been worked-out) it also keeps the possibility of wider usage when biotechnology and medicine achieve that level.
Based on: nature.com/news/2007/medicinfull/070129-11.html