Why pig-to-human heart transplant is for now only a

last resort
Link 🖇️:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/11/pig-to-human-heart-transplant-safety-ethical-
concerns

There is summary of this “Research”in some main points:

1. Patient Status:
Doctors are monitoring the patient who underwent a pig heart transplant. It is still early to determine
the success of the operation.

2. History of Animal Organ Transplants:

Using animal organs to save human lives has a controversial past. Some see it as a solution to long
waiting lists, while others find it ethically wrong. Previous attempts with chimpanzee kidneys and
baboon hearts resulted in limited success.

3. Challenges and Risks:

The main challenge is immune rejection, even with human organs. In this case, the pig heart used is
designed to be less prone to rejection but still requires strong immunosuppression. There are concerns
about the compatibility and acceptance of organs from another species.

4. Advancements and Concerns:

Researchers have focused on pigs due to the similarity of their organs to humans. However, retroviruses
found in pig DNA raised concerns about potential infections. Genome editing techniques have been
employed to address these concerns and remove retroviruses from pig tissues.

5. Clinical Trials and Future Prospects:

The effectiveness and safety of animal organ transplants will be determined through clinical trials rather
than isolated cases. Biotech companies are proceeding cautiously, conducting trials in other animals
before moving to human trials. The reliance on human donors for organ transplants remains the current
hope until further progress is made.

Summarized by Muneeb ur Rehman.