Human-sheep hybrids could grow human organs someday
- 6 years ago
CALIFORNIA — Researchers in California are working on reducing organ transplant rejections by using sheep and pig embryos with human cells.
The team introduced adult stem cells into early-stage sheep embryos, and then returned them to the sheep to grow for three more weeks, Newsweek reported.
The scientists say they achieved sheep embryos where one in every 10,000 cells was human.
The findings were presented by Hiro Nakauchi from Stanford University and Pablo Ross from the University of California at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting in Austin, Texas, UPI reported.
In the U.S. alone last year, 34,770 organ transplants were performed, while 115,035 people are currently waiting for a transplant. Around 20 people die daily waiting for transplants.
The research is still in its preliminary stages, but Nakauchi is optimistic that humans will one day receive organs grown in animals.
The team introduced adult stem cells into early-stage sheep embryos, and then returned them to the sheep to grow for three more weeks, Newsweek reported.
The scientists say they achieved sheep embryos where one in every 10,000 cells was human.
The findings were presented by Hiro Nakauchi from Stanford University and Pablo Ross from the University of California at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting in Austin, Texas, UPI reported.
In the U.S. alone last year, 34,770 organ transplants were performed, while 115,035 people are currently waiting for a transplant. Around 20 people die daily waiting for transplants.
The research is still in its preliminary stages, but Nakauchi is optimistic that humans will one day receive organs grown in animals.