With the creation of the first successful human-pig hybrid in the laboratory, scientists hope to develop life to save lab-grown organs.
This biomedical advantage has long been a dream for the doctors as it would solve the problem of organ transplant in humans. Every year, a lot of people die because they don't have an organ transplant or because they have been waiting for a generous organ donor.
However, you would be glad to know that in the laboratory of Lars Budorf at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, they have filtered out human blood with the kidneys of pigs. Not just this, they are researching if the animal-human hybrid organs such as lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver can be used for human transplants.
Producing A Chimera
Science defines chimera as the organism that contains cells from two different species. It is created by the fusion of cells of the two different organisms at the embryonic level. Both the organisms are grown together into a hybrid, in the body of the parent organism.
Chimera For Organ Transplants
Pigs have been chosen to produce or cultivate organs capable of human use. Human cells will be introduced into a pig embryo and the percentage of pig cells in the tissues of the organs that will be accepted by a human body will be figured out.
Chimera Is Beyond Reach
But since these have been very less in number, they are not known and are ineligible for use by the common public. And even if the option will be available, the cost of transplant would be considerably high.
Introducing the organ of one animal into another is a risk. Several tests would be performed before the transplant is done in order to ensure the safety of the patient. This might be one reason why people will be reluctant to give in to this.
But altogether, this is a big thing. With the emergence of this discovery as a scalable product, the entire human race would be indebted to science. When it comes to saving a life, everything is accepted.
Instead of relying on a generous donor, people will have ready organs for immediate transplant. A lot many people could live a few extra years if not many. What do you think?