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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Nuclear1 on August 27, 2002, 07:38:22 pm

Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: Nuclear1 on August 27, 2002, 07:38:22 pm: Quote
LONDON- The prospect of pigs providing humans with an endless supply of compatible organs for transplant seemed one step closer Thursday after scientists announced they have cloned piglets lacking both copies of the gene that makes the human immune system reject pig tissue.
PPL Therapeutics PLC, the Scottish firm that in 1997 hlped make Dolly the sheep -- the first successfully cloned mammal -- announced that four healthy piglets with both copies of the gene "knocked out" were born July 25.
A fifth piglet died shortly after birth of unknown causes.
"Developing another source of organs would have a profound impact on society," said Dr. Jeffrey L. Platt, head of transplantation biology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
The next step is to transplant pig organs into other animals, such as baboons.
The critical gene, GGTAI, makes a sugar called alpha-1(:D)-galactose which lines pig blood vessels. Because it is nearly identical to a bacterial sugar, the human immune system attacks it. Pig organs transplanted into people would be destroyed almost instantly.
Geoff Cook, chief executive of PPL, predicted that studies testing pig organs in humans could start within two years.
Some scientists believe alpha-1-galactose is the most important hurdle, but Platt thinks other aspects will prove more difficult.
Another worry is whether the organs will carry pig viruses that could be harmful to people.

So, whaddya think?
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: Stealth on August 27, 2002, 07:50:56 pm: well Stryke's already part goat
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: Bobboau on August 28, 2002, 01:33:00 am: yay, spare parts for all!!!
Title: Hmm...
Post by: Star Dragon on August 28, 2002, 01:48:42 am: If I eat Bacon, would that make me a Cannibal? :eek: :nervous: :lol:
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: Reaper on August 28, 2002, 02:24:55 am: Pigs and Humans are all the samed M'kay... I think i'll just stick to being devil
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: Gortef on August 28, 2002, 04:20:09 am: Ok... cool, I guess....
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: CP5670 on August 28, 2002, 08:59:33 am: Interesting...

Actually, what I really would like to see is mechanical organs that can be replaced for the existing ones. ;7
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: wEvil on August 28, 2002, 09:45:11 am: *mumbles something about anti GM fools*

Its a good idea although i'd prefer them to be grown from scratch, i'm still not happy about slaughtering animals in volume (and yes I do eat meat)
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: CP5670 on August 28, 2002, 10:12:27 am: lol, I am fully vegeterian but do not care about animals at all... :p
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: Redfang on August 28, 2002, 10:21:13 am: Quote
Originally posted by CP5670
lol, I am fully vegeterian but do not care about animals at all... :p
You're CP. That is all.

Being fully vegetarian is very hard, at least if you want to also be healthly.
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: CP5670 on August 28, 2002, 10:26:50 am: Actually, that is the reason I am so; many scientific studies have found numerous health hazards in meat products. :D (besides, it tastes like rubber :p)
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: Reaper on August 28, 2002, 10:31:12 am: Quote
Originally posted by CP5670
Actually, that is the reason I am so; many scientific studies have found numerous health hazards in meat products. :D (besides, it tastes like rubber :p)

No way... flesh tastes GREAT... i hate vegitebles...they taste like rubber....
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: Redfang on August 28, 2002, 10:32:36 am: I like both. :p

Though I've not heard about meat having health hazards, except some cow stuff from England... and some other stuff too but not at Finland. ;)
Title: Cloned Pigs-Human transplants?
Post by: CP5670 on August 28, 2002, 10:47:44 am: I have been constantly seeing all kinds of articles over the last several years about heart disease, cancer and some other stuff and how it is related to meat products.

Quote
No way... flesh tastes GREAT... i hate vegitebles...they taste like rubber....

boiled vegetables is about all I eat. :D But the flesh is actually elastic like rubber, so it would be much more "rubbery." :D I still cannot understand why people don't eat human corpses, though.