Engineered pig organs survive in monkeys

Nature Magazine ^ | 08 December 2003 | HELEN PEARSON

[PatrickHenry]

A couple of issues here: genetic engineering [oh the horror!], monkeys and humans [Gasp! That reeks of common descent!] both exhibit the same violent rejection to pig transplants, and ... despite these issues, science continues to make progress.

[PatrickHenry]

PING. [This ping list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and sometimes for other science topics. FReepmail me to be added or dropped.]

[CJ Wolf]

They should call that magazine, un-nature.

[Kenton]

I wonder if they're gonna genetically engineer a pig that is all baby back ribs...

[Egon]

Sorry, it must be too early in the morning for me. My first thought upon reading this was: Is the resulting hybred animal called a Punky or a Mig?

[thoughtomator]

This explains Hillary

[CzarNicky]

When are we going to get a four assed monkey?

[ErnBatavia]

I still remember several years ago when a baboon's heart was transplanted into a human....Petah Jennings used the apparent Canadian pronunciation: "Buh-boon"

[ASA Vet]

science continues to make progress

I think mankind has finally reached maturity.
There will always be a residual supernaturalists to whine,
but their influence is waning.

[flutters]

The results show that, in principle, the genetically engineered pig organs bypass the fierce rejection response, and will perhaps escape attack in the human body too. "It is evidence that rejection can be overcome,"

My mother had four separate valve transplants - two pig valve's and two mechanical valve's. She rejected the pig valve after her last surgery.

I hope genetic engineering works and will reduce the rejection rate.

[PatrickHenry]

There will always be a residual supernaturalists to whine, but their influence is waning.

They'll probably be complaining all over this thread. But they'll all accept an organ transplant if they need one. Provided, of course, that it's been suitably engineered to be successfully transplanted into the related [gasp!] monkey-human family of [ahem!] animals.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I wonder if they're gonna genetically engineer a pig that is all baby back ribs...

Now you're talking!

[js1138]

My first thought is that Western medicine should make as much as possible based on pigs -- transplants, vaccines, pharmaceuticals.

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

This isn't a crevo issue.

And how dare the skeptics voice concern over animal-to-human transplants! What's the worst that could happen? (degredation of the humane genome, death, suffering)

First you give the recipient immunosupressants (e.g., Cyclosporin) and/or steroids, basically rendering their immune system inoperable, then introduce animal organs which may or may not work and which may also contain uniquely-animal viruses that can contaminate the human genome forever. The viruses can 'jump' species barriers and be passed both horizontally (e.g., needles) and vertically (offspring). Furthermore, animal organs weren't designed to support the human respiratory systems. For example, pig kidneys are unable to handle the high levels of uric acid found in the human bloodstream and are also unable to regulate drug levels.

So, no, it's not just creationists who have a problem with the practice, it's everyone who understands the possible side effects and associated effects on the human genome. (course to an evo, what's one bad mutation?)

I think the alternatives (living healthier lifestyles, the utilization of organs taken from deceased humans and intelligently designed mechanical parts) seem more viable. But who knows, if our scientists continue to intelligently design and restructure mature systems and components, we may have a breakthrough!

[ASA Vet]

skeptics voice concern over animal-to-human transplants

I have no problem with skeptics basing their argurments on reality.
They will likely bring up factors which will need to be addressed, and researched.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[PatrickHenry]

Some threads just don't attract any interest. Whatcha gonna do?

Didn't want your post to be the last. Too embarrassing. So let it be mine.

[general_re]

Novartis did a study a couple of years ago which suggested strongly that the threat of transgenic viruses from xenotransplants was very low, which was one of the common fears about such things.

Might as well make the last post on-topic ;)

[Alamo-Girl]

Actually, I've been expecting this thread to explode because there are so many different topics to discuss. The first one that occurs to me is the use of pig engineered organs would be intolerable to all the Muslims. Of course it might also work as a punishment worse than death for one caught in a terrorist attack...

[general_re]

The first one that occurs to me is the use of pig engineered organs would be intolerable to all the Muslims.

Sucks for them. This is why it's really important to read the fine print when shopping for a religion ;)