A Chinese research team and the clinicians at the Xijing Hospital in China have conducted a xenotransplantation by transplanting a gene-edited pig’s organs to four monkeys, which have been survived for nearly 10 days. The pig’s liver, heart, kidney and its cornea, skin and bone tissue have been transplanted to the monkeys and are currently in good condition.
“The most difficult part of the surgeries was the transplantation of the liver and kidney to a 10 kg monkey. So far, the transplantation has proved quite successful.” said Dou Kefeng, the lead researcher.
Scientist have been hoping for that the xenotransplantation concept may help solve the worldwide problem of human organ shortage and the experiment has been an indication of a step towards the anticipation.