Stem cells would be harvested from the placentas and umbilical cords of newborn babies, under a plan Australian researchers say could yield therapies for conditions ranging from arthritis to burns.
But other doctors say the proposed service - costing families about $5000 - preys on the fears of new parents and has insufficient scientific backing.
Stem cells derived from different pregnancy tissues may be better suited to treating some diseases than those from widely used umbilical cord blood, Richard Boyd, the director of Monash University's Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, said. An associated company expects to offer stem cell banking from next year.
The lining of the placenta was rich in stem cells with the potential to develop into surface tissues of the body, such as the skin, lungs and the digestive tract, Professor Boyd said, and might be used to treat diseases in those organs. As well, they could develop into many different tissue types and might be used as a generic repair kit, sidestepping ethical dilemmas associated with stem cells from early human embryos.
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