Soon after birth, special cells were collected from their new son's umbilical cord and last month, transfused into his sister to help restore her damaged system.

ECONOMIST: Gene genies

ViaCell's umbilical cord product is entering human trials.

FORBES: Small Stem Cells Find Big Backers

Cells from the baby's bone marrow or umbilical cord are used to treat the older child.

BBC: Embryology Bill: The key points

Despite its umbilical links with America, Canada's economy suffered only a mild recession and is now well into a solid recovery.

ECONOMIST: The least-bad rich-world economy

In one instance a doctor successfully cured a mouse of type 1 diabetes by transplanting umbilical cord stem cells into the animal's pancreas.

FORBES: Navel Gazing

The umbilical cord was snaked around the baby's neck, tightly.

CNN: Delivering my son: 'Breathe, baby, breathe!'

Oh, and the umbilical cord might be tangled around the baby's neck five times.

CNN: Delivering my son: 'Breathe, baby, breathe!'

Wherever we live we need to feel connected to the oceans, as they are our umbilical cord to life, driving the world's weather systems, ensuring we can take our next sip of water and our next breath.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS