# The placenta as a cradle, but not source, of blood?

## TL;DR

This paper explores whether the placenta produces blood-forming stem cells or just provides a supportive environment for them.

## Contribution

The study reveals that the placenta is not a direct source of hematopoietic stem cells.

## Key findings

- The placenta does not directly generate hematopoietic stem cells.
- The placenta functions more as a supportive niche rather than a source of these cells.

## Abstract

An important question is whether the placenta is a source of, or merely a niche for, blood-forming hematopoietic stem cells. A recent PLOS Biology study suggests that the placenta does not directly give rise to hematopoietic stem cells.

An important question is whether the placenta is a source of, or merely a niche for, blood-forming hematopoietic stem cells. This Primer highlights a recent PLOS Biology study showing that the placenta does not directly give rise to hematopoietic stem cells.