As
for xenotransplantation, some of the most virulent viral diseases afflicting humans are believed to have crossed over from other species to humans.
Emory researchers Susan Safley and Collin Weber have been exploring the possibility of using different animals
for xenotransplantation: fish, specifically tilapia.
Recently, prospects
for xenotransplantation brightened when Harvard geneticist George Church demonstrated the removal of dozens of endogenous retroviruses from the pig genome, in a tour de force of the CRISPR / Cas9 gene editing technique.
Scientists believe pigs are the most likely candidates
for xenotransplantation because their organs are biologically similar to those of humans.
Xeno - Edit, a CRISPR gene - editing biotechnology firm, has successfully created the world's first pig organs ready
for xenotransplantation in humans.
Not exact matches
It is the first animal to hit a milestone, set nearly 20 years ago by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation,
for determining whether a
xenotransplantation approach is safe enough to try in humans, Brenner notes.
When Europeans looked
for information on one particular biotech topic,
xenotransplantation, 45 % thought doctors were most trustworthy.
A Department of Health special committee called UKXIRA [UK
Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority] is responsible
for providing advice on any applications to start a programme of using animals organs in human beings.»
This research has huge implications
for cloning, «
xenotransplantation» (organ transplants from animals to humans) and research ethics.
Ideal
for year 7 or year 8 Resources provide opportunities
for students to: - explore and research context -
Xenotransplantation - explore themes such as perseverance, friendship, optimism, forgiveness, - explore and analyse characters and themes - write persuasively - develop speaking and listening skills - develop sympathy and empathy skills