Taiwan: Breeding genetically modified pigs for human organ transplantation

A group of Taiwanese researchers has succeeded in creating genetically modified pigs with human transplants without risk of rejection.

(Photo: HTV) Unlike other baboons and chimpanzees, animals also have biological similarities to humans, pigs are not legally protected. It is also an animal chosen to perform transplants of xeno-transplantation.

The study was led by Tu Chin-Fu, director of the Department of Biotechnology at Taiwan Animal Technology Institute. The researchers introduced six anti-rejection genes into pig genetic material. To determine if they could transplant pig organs for humans, they injected human blood into the kidneys and lungs from these pigs. The researchers noted that these parts worked very well.

According to Tu Chin-Fu, thousands of people around the world who need an organ transplant have died because they could not find someone for a compatible organ, so transplanting organs between species could be a measure in future. He said the next phase would be mass production of this transgenic manatee.