Looking at the functions of stem cells, bone marrow and peripheral blood contain later-stage cells, with only immune and hematopoietic functions. The stem cells in cord blood, however, are primal cells that have not completed differentiation, and thus have the potential to develop into any cell type, offering wide applications in treatment, such as repairing brain damage in patients like young Wang.
若以幹細胞的功能來說，骨髓與周邊血是比較後期的細胞，只有免疫和造血功能；臍帶血中的幹細胞則是尚未完全分化的「初始」細胞，因此有機會發展成各種細胞，可適應的治療範圍較廣，像王小弟弟藉臍帶血幹細胞去修復腦傷。