Scientists Grow Humanized Kidneys In Pig Embryos

Scientists Grow Humanized Kidneys In Pig Embryos

Scientists grow humanized kidneys in pig embryos (sciencenews.org)

Kidney transplant - Mayo Clinic

The article discussed how human cells were grown in pig embryos to form viable organs. The primary use was to be able to supply organs to those who are waiting on the transplant list. More than 100,000 people one waiting on the transplant list for an organ. According to the Mayo Clinic,  kidney transplant provides better quality of life, lower risk of death, fewer dietary restrictions, and lower cost of treatment compared to dialysis. The article explained how the human kidney has more than 70 cell types and scientists would have to replicate it. The kidney grown in the pig embryo was made out of 50-60% of human cells. Although the scientists haven't reached their goal of making a full human kidney they believe that they have made some progress. I found this article interesting because I wasn't aware that creating human kidneys in pig embryos was possible. The purpose of this experiment was to provide kidneys to those who needed them, which would end up saving their lives. 

Pig Kidney Transplant

 

  

  In an article written in the New York Times, Roni Caryn Rabin writes about a recent special kidney transplant. The kidney transplant was so unique because the kidney came from a genetically engineered pig. The transplant was conducted on a patient that was declared brain dead and an organ donor. Since the patient's organs were no longer viable to donate, the doctors asked the family if they could attempt the pig kidney transplant. The transplant was conducted outside the abdomen due to the restrictions put in place regarding transplants from animal organs. Although the transplant was not peer reviewed or published, the surgery shows great promise for the future of transplants.

    Using animal organs, specifically pigs, has been heavily disputed in the scientific community over the years. It is well known that transplant organs are in high demand, but there is not enough to go to everyone who needs one. The transplant list is what determines who gets the next organs based on the other people waiting for the same organ. Having genetically engineered pigs to allow for organs to be transplanted would allow for more people to have transplant organs that need it. However, many argue that we should not rely on animals to supply us of organs because it is morally wrong and we should solve our own problems by donating organs.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/19/health/kidney-transplant-pig-human.html#:~:text=Surgeons%20in%20New%20York%20have,organs%20for%20severely%20ill%20patients.

https://transplantliving.org/before-the-transplant/about-organ-allocation/getting-on-the-list/ 

Human-Pig Hybrid

Scientists have recently discovered two ways to create hybrid "human-animals" that have the potential to save thousands of people every year. The feat that has been accomplished is that an organism has been created that contains cells from two separate species. Just like when humans receive transplants, one way to do this is to introduce the organs from an organism of one species into an organism of another species. However, like human to human transplants, those organs could be rejected by the recipients immune system. The more advanced process they have been able to come up with is introducing cells from one species into the embryo of another species, thus allowing them to grow together, avoiding rejection.

Pigs are very similar to humans, so the outlook for this medical advance is certainly promising. In this study, when the human cells were introduced into the pig, it was critical that the timing was perfect, as improper timing lead to fatal results for the pigs. This will take some time to perfect, and if these cells were introduced into humans as of right now, it would likely fail. However, if they could increase the number of human cells that the pig embryo could tolerate, this experiment would be much more successful.

Though this research is extremely controversial, I would have to admit that I think the ethical concerns are well worth the risk. It upsets some people that scientists are creating hybrids and combining humans with animals because it is, after all, quite strange and foreign. However, the results would be beneficial to all of mankind. Thousands of human lives could be saved each year by growing organs from these chimeras. Overall, if the process can be perfected, it will be well worth it.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/01/human-pig-hybrid-embryo-chimera-organs-health-science/

http://www.sciencealert.com/it-s-alive-the-first-human-pig-hybrid-has-been-created-in-the-lab