As the healthcare industry continues to grow and evolve at an accelerated pace, new and advanced technologies are popping up every day and becoming more common. One technology that has garnered both positive and negative attention is stem cell transplantation. Hematopoietic stem cells refer to the blood in the body that forms blood cells (American Cancer Society, 2013). Here is some basic information about these types of stem cells. These cells are young and immature. Stem cells live mainly in the bone marrow (the spongy center of some bones), where they divide to produce new blood cells. Once blood cells mature, they leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream. Even a small number of stem cells enter the bloodstream. These are called peripheral blood stem cells. (American Cancer Society, 2013). Stem cells are unique because they are pluripotent, meaning they can give rise to all cell lineages. Diseases can damage the blood marrow and tissues. To repair this damage, doctors can transplant the stem cells described above into the patient who needs them. There are a few different names for this type of transplant procedure. They are: bone marrow transplant, peripheral blood stem cell transplant and cord blood transplant (American Cancer Society, 2013). The process of transplanting these hematopoietic stem cells involves a series of complex steps. The first step involves the patient receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation, which kills diseased cells. This “conditions” the area (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 2014). Next, healthy stem cells are infused into this conditioned area. “These transplanted stem cells will begin to grow and produce healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.” (Dana-Farber Can......middle of paper......l Studies. PLOS Biology:. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001738Stem Cell Research (n.d.). -researchStem Cell Transplant - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (n.d.) Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http: //www.dana-farber.org/Adult-Care/Treatment-and-Support/Treatment-Centers-and-Clinical-. Services/Stem-Cell-Transplantation-Program.aspxWhat are stem cells and why are they transplanted? (nd.) What are stem cells and why are they transplanted?. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www.cancer.org /treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/bonemarrowandperipheralbloodstemcelltransplant/stem-cell-transplant-what-are-stem”.