''This research reveals a new organ for blood development,'' Orkin says. ''It is surprising that this role for the placenta has been overlooked for so many years.''
The study, published in the March issue of the journal Developmental Cell, found that blood stem cells appeared in the placenta early, with numbers peaking mid-gestation. Only the fetal liver, where blood stem cells are known to expand tremendously, had greater numbers of blood stem cells.
Children's Hospital Boston is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults for over 136 years. More than 500 scientists, including eight members of the National Academy of Sciences, nine members of the Institute of Medicine and 10 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Children's research community. Founded in 1869 as a 20-bed hospital for children, Children's Hospital Boston today is a 325-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children's also is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information about the hospital visit: http://www.childrenshospital.org/research.