Cord Blood Glossary

ADULT STEM CELLS:	Stem cells that are harvested from mature human tissue.
ALLOGENEIC:	A transplant that involves using stem cells that are harvested from a person other than the recipient of the stem cells.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BLOOD BANKS:	The leading organization that accredits umbilical cord blood banks.
AUTOLOGOUS:	A transplant that involves using stem cells that are harvested from the same person receiving the transplant.
CORD BLOOD BANKING:	A method of storing stem cells collected from fetal umbilical cord blood over a prolonged period of time.
CORD BLOOD DONATION:	Cord blood that is given to a public bank to be used by anyone in need.
CORD BLOOD STORAGE:	Freezing cord blood for future use in transplants. Cord blood samples are usually stored in liquid nitrogen and are contained in either bags or vials in the freezer.
CORD BLOOD:	Blood that is present in the umbilical cord.
DIFFERENTIATION:	The process in which scientists influence the manipulation of stem cells through different signals or chemicals.
EMBRYO:	A fertilized egg that has begun to divide but is still in the earliest stages of development.
HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS:	Stem cells harvested from human embryos. These stem cells have the ability to become almost any other type of cell.
GRAFT vs. HOST DISEASE:	A potentially fatal complication arising after a transplant wherein the transplant recipient's body recognizes the new stem cells as foreign and attacks them.
HUMAN LEUKOCYTE ANTIGENS (HLA):	A protein that is found on cells that must be matched between a donor and a transplant recipient before a transplant can take place.
PLASTICITY:	The ability to which a stem cell can be manipulated into becoming another type of cell.
PRIVATE CORD BLOOD BANK:	A cord blood bank that allows a family to store their cord blood samples for a fee. This blood is reserved for sole use by the family.
PUBLIC CORD BLOOD BANK:	A cord blood bank that accepts donations and stores the samples for free. This blood can be used by anyone.
SIGNALS:	Stem cells genes are controlled by internal signals. Possible external signals include chemical secretions, physical contact with neighboring cells or molecules in the microenvironment.
STEM CELLS:	A cell that has the ability to become almost any other type of cell in the body.