Glossary of Terms
Allogeneic: Individuals or tissues that are of the same species, but different immune system cell composition.
Anemia: A pathological deficiency in the oxygen-carrying material of the blood (hemoglobin).
Autologous: Related to self: originating within an organism itself.
Blood Bank: A stored supply of human material or tissues (blood) for future use.
Bone Marrow: The soft organic material that fills the cavities of the bones.
Cancer: A cellular tumor, which left untreated, can spread and cause death.
Cryogenic: Pertaining to or causing the production of low temperatures.
Cryopreservation: The maintaining of the viability of cells (blood), tissue, or organs by storing them at very low temperatures.
Family History: Multi-generational evidence of a medical condition or disease in a group of individuals sharing common ancestry.
Genetic Disease: Disease originating at the gene level.
Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD): A transplant complication resulting from the reaction between the immune system cells of a stem cell transplant recipient (host) and donor (graft).
Hematopoietic: Pertaining to or affecting the formation of blood cells.
Informed Consent: Agreement to a procedure or action provided by an individual or individuals following education or receipt of information about the procedure or action; usually agreed to in writing.
Leukemia: A progressive, malignant disease of the blood-forming organs.
Stem Cells: A blood cell mother cell, having the capacity for both replication and differentiation, and giving rise to different blood cell lines of distinct characteristics and appearance. Cord Blood Stem Cells make Red Blood Cells for carrying oxygen, White Blood Cells for fighting infections, and Platelets for clotting blood.
Umbilical Cord: The flexible, cordlike structure connecting the fetus at the navel with the placenta and containing two umbilical arteries and one vein that nourish the fetus and remove its wastes.
Umbilical Cord Blood: Blood contained in the umbilical cord at the time of birth.
