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Friday, Jan 27 2017

Full Issue

Scientists Grow Stem Cells In Pig Embryos Offering Promise Of Inter-Species Organ Transplants

But many ethical and technological barriers remain, scientists warn.

For the first time, biologists have succeeded in growing human stem cells in pig embryos, shifting from science fiction to the realm of the possible the idea of developing human organs in animals for later transplant. (Wade, 1/26)

The human-pig聽hybrid聽鈥 dubbed a 鈥渃himera鈥 for the mythical creature with a lion's head, a goat's body and a serpent's tail 鈥斅爓as 鈥渉ighly inefficient,鈥 the researchers cautioned.聽But it's the most successful human-animal chimera and a聽significant step toward the development of animal embryos with functioning human organs. (Kaplan, 1/26)

The ethical concerns focused on the possibility the human cells could create animals that had human brain cells or tissues, blurring the line between the species. There are also concerns the cells could form human eggs or sperm in farm animals such as cows, sheep or pigs, and then those animals could mate. (Stein, 1/26)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
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