Scientists move towards growing human organs in pigs

For the first time, scientists have grown embryos that contain a combination of pig and human stem cells, in a step towards one day growing transplantable human organs, a study says.

However, the research remains at a very early stage and proved more difficult than expected, the researchers reported in the peer-reviewed journal Cell on Thursday.

“This is an important first step,” said lead investigator Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a professor in the Salk Institute of Biological Studies’ Gene Expression Laboratory.

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“The ultimate goal is to grow functional and transplantable tissue or organs, but we are far away from that.”

Scientists implanted adult human stem cells – known as intermediate induced pluripotent stem cells – into pig embryos and allowed them to grow for four weeks.

 

 

 

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