The proliferation and differentiation characteristics of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells were examined in a non-rotational suspension bioreactor with a fishtail mixer. The system consisted of a glass vessel, a mixer that moved vertically, a data acquisition and control system to continuously monitor pH, temperature and dissolved O-2. The bioreactor provided superior expansion of total HSCs and not total cell number, as well as expression of stemness-related genes which followed with increasing in number of colony-forming cells during 14 days of culture compared to T-lask culture. Vertical agitation thus reduces the total cell number, which may be related to increased shear stress, but has no effect on HSC function.