Human Hearts From Pigs?

Pig Chimera

Ancient myths of part-human animals from Greek mythology were first brought to life in fiction by H.G. Wells in "The Island of Dr. Moreau." The next step has happened for the purpose of growing replacement parts for humans.  Where we are products of one line of cellular evolution it is possible and has been done for human hearts cultured in pigs!  Those grown specifically for this purpose.  They are destined to become a much needed source for human organs.

We can only imagine this becoming a great issue for Muslims as Islam is reviled by anything from a pig.  Rabbis can give a dispensation from Judaism's similar stricture. 

This has all come from antiquity where the people of the Arabian Peninsula observed some who ate pork became diseased with Trichinosis, a painful, lingering-death, affliction.  The disease is prevented now by cooking pig food if it includes food scraps or is limited to grain which does not culture Trichina worms.  Such worms can be seen in butchering so there is no excuse for Trichinosis to be in our food supply and thorough cooking with meat to temperatures exceeding 170 Fahrenheit degrees kills the worms.

A recent report in The National Geographic Society Magazine notes: “In a remarkable, likely controversial, feat, scientists announced today they have created the first successful human-animal hybrids. The project proves  human cells can be introduced into a non-human organism, survive, and even grow inside a host animal, in this case, pigs.”  It is not really "remarkable," but biology.

Many Christians and conservatives believe human life begins at conception and acquires a soul, but hybrid body parts?   "This biomedical advance has long been a dream and a quandary for scientists hoping to address a critical shortage of donor organs.”

“Every ten minutes, a person is added to the national waiting list for organ transplants. And every day, 22 people on that list die for lack of the organ they needed. What if, rather than relying on a generous donor, you could grow a custom organ inside an animal instead?”

“That’s now one step closer to reality, an international team of researchers led by the Salk Institute reports in the journal Cell. The team created what’s known scientifically as a "chimera," an organism with cells from two different species."

Lead scientist and author Jun Wu of the Salk Institute said he views chimera creations in the same sense as ancients viewed chimeras, saying: “In ancient civilizations, chimeras were associated with God, and our ancestors thought the chimeric form guarded humans.” Now they are!

By introducing stem cells from one animal or human into another animal’s embryo and the letting them develop together, it is hoped to produce usable organs for transplanting. No doubt there will be recipient questions like, "Will I be attracted to barnyard animals?" or "Will I "oink" in the night?" or "Want to eat garbage?" 

It is not known how well mixed DNA organs will work in the body of the recipient over time or if there is any mixing in the process.  It is hoped the presence of human codes will keep the recipient's body from seeing the replacement organ as invaders or intruders as it would one with another specie's genes.  Such reactions are the key to our immunity systems so the experimenters are navigating in enemy territory at the cellular level.

Where this is cutting edge medicine it can be expected the first recipients of this new technology will drop dead when they get the bill. So much for human hearts from pigs.

Adrian Vance