Xenotransplantation – A New Hope or Another Dead End???
With the constant criticism of current human stem cell research, scientists have begun to explore xenotransplantation, a whole new process of developing ‘spare’ organs for ailing humans.
Xenotransplantation, the process of growing organs in genetically altered animals, primarily pigs, and transplanting them into humans, is rapidly becoming a serious answer to the massive organ waiting lists worldwide. It has the potential to save countless human lives, however at the expense of animals. Pigs are ideal because they are easily reared and have the ability to mass produce quite quickly, but more importantly because pig organs have a very similar size, shape and function of human organs.
This technology has its problems however, as normal pig organs will not suvive in a human body. Thus, the need to genetically engineer a breed of ‘compatible’ pigs has arisen. Huge investments have been injected into this field, which has allowed a strain of pig to be produced which no longer carries PER viruses or certain sugar molecules which are prone to rejection by the human body. With certain genes removed from these pigs the opportunity of using full pig organs in humans is just around the corner.
Xenotransplantation is at the forefront of genetic engineering, however in terms of genetic engineering there are always ethical problems. There will always be the questions, is it right to take one life for another? Is xenotransplantation playing God? The only way this will work is if there are strict guidelines that satisfy all involved parties. Whether this is possible or not – time will tell.
Tim McClymont – s40986810
Xenotransplantation, the process of growing organs in genetically altered animals, primarily pigs, and transplanting them into humans, is rapidly becoming a serious answer to the massive organ waiting lists worldwide. It has the potential to save countless human lives, however at the expense of animals. Pigs are ideal because they are easily reared and have the ability to mass produce quite quickly, but more importantly because pig organs have a very similar size, shape and function of human organs.
This technology has its problems however, as normal pig organs will not suvive in a human body. Thus, the need to genetically engineer a breed of ‘compatible’ pigs has arisen. Huge investments have been injected into this field, which has allowed a strain of pig to be produced which no longer carries PER viruses or certain sugar molecules which are prone to rejection by the human body. With certain genes removed from these pigs the opportunity of using full pig organs in humans is just around the corner.
Xenotransplantation is at the forefront of genetic engineering, however in terms of genetic engineering there are always ethical problems. There will always be the questions, is it right to take one life for another? Is xenotransplantation playing God? The only way this will work is if there are strict guidelines that satisfy all involved parties. Whether this is possible or not – time will tell.
Tim McClymont – s40986810
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