First Milestone Study Creates Human-Pig Hybrid Embryos; Scientists say Future for Growing Transplantable Organs is Near

By Jamie Nelson, | January 30, 2017

The prospect of growing human organs for transplantation has been raised by the first human-pig embryos.

The prospect of growing human organs for transplantation has been raised by the first human-pig embryos.

In a milestone procedure, scientists have created a hybrid embryo comprising human-pig cells. The study has heightened the possibility of growing organs required by humans inside animals to be transplanted later on.

According to the Guardian, this is the first time an embryo has been created from species that are distantly related. This new form of cross hybrid is being referred to as a chimera. The name stems from the cross-species of an animal which appears in Greek mythology. Many scientists are claiming that the embryo success could be the first steps towards creating human liver, kidney and even heart from cells.

Like Us on Facebook

Dr. Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte who led the study told the publication while the success of the trials provides hope of producing transplantable tissue, he said there was a lot more work to be done.

The results of the study were published in the scientific journal called Cell. The research has not come without controversy as human rights activists have raised ethical concerns. Activists claimed that the study could raise the possibility of intelligent animals with the ability to think using similar human brains being conceived. In addition, they also noted the danger that hybrid animals bred in the lab would have if released into the wild.

The scientific journal traced the details of how the procedure was carried out. Scientists used early stage pig embryos and injected human stem cells into the embryos. According to the journal, more than a 100 of the embryos developed into hybrids that were mostly pigs but included a small human element of about 10,000 cells.

The embryos, according to the journal were studied up until it developed to 28 days, thereafter the embryos were removed. This period of gestation would normally amount to the first trimester of a pregnancy in pigs. Scientists claimed 28 days was sufficient time to study how pig and human cells mix without raising alarms of ethical concerns about mature hybrid animals being conceived.

The scientific team behind the revolutionary study believe the technique could be the platform to create human organs compatible to a donor required for transplanting. Furthermore, researchers believe the above method could be used to test the efficacy of new medicines effectively and safely.


©2024 Telegiz All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission
Real Time Analytics