Human-Animal Hybrid

This article is about a newly discovered type of stem cell could help provide a model for early human development. Eventually, human organs can be grown in large animals for research or therapeutic purpose. Scientists stumbled upon an unknown variety of pluripotent cell, which can give rise to any type of tissue. They stumbled upon it while attempting to graft human pluripotent stem cells into mouse embryos. 

These cells more quickly and stably than other pluripotent cells. That is why they may be more useful for developing new therapies. Izpisua Belmonte sought to transplant known types of human pluripotent cell into mouse embryos in vitro. They were grown in different combinations of growth factors and chemicals. Eventually they found a solution that causes them to be most effective. However, they did not take well with the mouse.

Gene editing could help scientists to optimize human cells’ ability to grow within another species, allowing the creation of transgenic chimaeras. It is stated that using human cells to create animals with human organs is not unrealistic. With this arise ethical questions about creating human-animal hybrids. They acknowledge this concern, but the lab has already started to implant pig embryos with different cells.

Reference

Nature Magazine, & Reardon, S. (2015, May 7). New Type of Stem Cell Could Make It Easier to Grow Human Organs. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-type-of-stem-cell-could-make-it-easier-to-grow-human-organs/