Here comes xenotransplantation - pigs to humans!
Experiments using genetically engineered pigs
have raised hopes that cross-species transplantation could soon become an
option.
Looks like clinical trials have already started
Experiments using pigs genetically engineered for compatibility with the human immune system have raised hopes that cross-species transplantation could soon become an option for patients with diabetes and other currently incurable diseases. However, many scientific hurdles remain before the ultimate goal of inducing long-term tolerance of animal tissues and organs in human recipients…
“The potential benefits of successful xenotransplantation to large numbers of patients with very differing clinical conditions remain immense, fully warranting the current efforts being made to work towards its clinical introduction.”
“Advances…might allow the initiation of clinical trials of xenotransplantation, at least for cell or islet transplantation or for the use of a pig organ to ‘bridge’ a patient until a human organ is obtained,” Dr. Cooper and coauthors write.
Of course, once you surpass the scientific hurdles there are the political, ignorant and reactionary hurdles. All part of the All-American Olympics.
Posted: Tue - July 24, 2007 at 07:51 AM