The breakthrough could help pave the way for transplantation of whole pig organs into humans, without fear of patients being infected with the pig retrovirus. The breakthrough, according to authors of the study published in the journal Science, could help pave the way for transplantation of whole pig organs into humans, without fear of patients being infected with the pig retrovirus. A shortage of available human organs has led scientists to study the possibility of animal donors to close the gap. Pigs have long been seen as a viable source for organ transplants to humans because their organs are similar in size. Scientists in decades past experimented with transplanting chimpanzee organs into human patients but turned their focus to pig organs instead after finding them to be more suitable donor candidates.

Source: Mint August 11, 2017 06:56 UTC