Creating a chimera? Progress in growing human organs in pig embryos.

Illustration by Lilyondine (Deviant Art)

Is it possible to grow human organs in another animal? Scientists from the Salk Institute reckon they are a step closer in doing so. This leads us closer to the reality where human organs can be grown from in a lab and transplanted into people who need a new organ.

In a research paper published in _Cell, _the researchers from Salk Institute was able to insert human stem cell (which are cells that has the potential to turn into any cell) into a developing embryo of a pig and see human cells starting to grow and divide.

However, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, the lead scientist in this project admits that we are still far away from creating a fully functional organ. Nonetheless, they believe that this is a great first step.

What do you think?

HDTH, Putter