Transplant of Pig Organs into Humans closer after stem cell breakthrough

Transplant of Pig Organs into Humans closer after stem cell breakthrough

The waiting list for organ transplants is growing to such an extent in such short time; it is unsure whether the patients that require the transplant will receive the specified treatment within the suitable time period. Recently scientists in China have found a method where they can use pig organs as a replicate organ to transplant. The pigs will ‘genetically carry’ human immune system proteins so the human body will accept the organs. The form of some pig organs and their function show a significant similarity to humans. This will reduce the waiting list by far and said to be available for transplant within a decade.

The process involves isolating the specific stem cells useful for human transplantation, then adding them to an embryo. The outcome of this will be a pig with both the normal and modified cells and if it mates with another pig with the same genotypes, an offspring with only modified genes will result.

The pigs will be bred as such to resist human infections but there is growing concern of the humans being exposed to pig viruses. Embryonic tem cells have been derived from other animals to culture and use for similar reasons, however there has not, as of yet, been any success with culturing the stem cells of pigs.

Reference: The Time, June 3 2009, Mark Henderson, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6417499.ece
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Cloning Monkeys

Researchers in Oregon used cloning to produce monkey embryos and then extracted stem cells from the embryos. They believe this could also work for humans. The monkey stem cells were genetically identical to an adult monkey and in theory could develop into any tissue or organ. They showed this by developing them into monkey heart cells and nerve cells.

The scientists began by removing skin cells from a 9 year old male and inserted them along with all their genes, into monkey eggs whose genetic material had been removed. The egg, in a part cloning process that remains ‘mysterious’, reprogrammed the gene from the skin cells, bringing them back to the state they were in when embryo development begins. The reprogrammed genes to over the developing egg and the result was a monkey embryo genetically identical to the adult male monkey. The researchers then extracted stem cells, destroying the embryos.

Most attempts failed with only two stem cell lines succeeding, one with a abnormal Y chromosome and one that appeared normal. Researches shined a polarized light through the egg which allowed them to see the chromosome directly without the use of dies.

The next step is to create cloned monkeys that carry genes for human disease, by adding human disease genes to adult skin cells before starting cloning. The result would be cloned monkeys that had human disease genes in every cell. Scientists would then study the monkeys to understand the cause and treatment of the disease.

Shannon Landmark P5, Jonathan Hansen

A human ovary grown in the lab using slivers of ovarian tissue can turn an immature egg into one that is ready to be fertilized. This can have mnay health benefits such as that women who have previously been unable to fertlise their eggs a higher chance of conceiving. It creates an artifical environment outside the body and by the use of a sex hormone oestradiol the egg is able to mature in around 72 hours. At this point the egg developed a polar body and can be used. This also means that women can take previously immature eggs and freeze them when before they had to be mature.