But this is just the first step.
In a lab at Tokyo University Professor Hiro Nakauchi is taking the next one, and this is even more astonishing.
Prof Nakauchi takes skin cells from an adult brown rat. He then uses gene manipulation to change these adult skin cells into what are called "iPS" cells. The amazing thing about induced pluripotent stem cells is that they have many of the same characteristics as embryonic stem cells. In other words, they can develop into any part of the animal's body.
IPS cells were first created in 2006 by Japanese medical researcher Dr Shinya Yamanaka. In 2012, he won the Nobel Prize for his discovery.
*SNIP*
But there are many potential obstacles ahead. The first is that pigs and humans are only distantly related. It is one thing to get a black pig pancreas to grow inside a white pig, quite another to get a human pancreas to do the same. Prof Nakauchi is confident it can be done. He thinks it will take at least five years, but admits it could take much longer.
The other problem is getting approval. In Japan, it is illegal to make human-animal hybrids. Prof Nakauchi is pushing for a change in the law. But if that does not happen, he may have to move his research to America.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To those in need, the reality of just advances would be seen as a godsend. To others, it is nothing short of an abomination to God. The problem is, secret experiments involving chimerical embryos with human components are probably going on at this very moment, as I understand, that are (hopefully) killed beyond a certain point in their development.
Mankind has benefited greatly from the limited advances in this field, but certainly the point at which ethical standards begin being violated is very close at hand if not already having gone beyond.
There are areas in which these advances ethically overlap that of abortion methodologies.
Certainly a dilemma for the ages.
If the Japanese can make square watermelons, they can reproduce human organs.
Don’t think playing around in God chemistry set is a good idea.
Thing is, if this was developed only the ultra rich and other elites would reap the benefits of such advancements.
Anyone think a regular person on ACA would ever get a needed organ??? I think not
I can’t wait until some deathly ill Moslem is faced with a life and death decision . . . “Do I die of allow something that came out of a pig to extend my Life?”
They will probably accept the transplant and then blow up the doctor for touching pigs.
Ghost in the Shell did it over 10 years ago...
You wanna see the future or a possible future watch: Ghost in the Shell Stand Along Complex.
Warning it is a bit weird: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTc_ZJ1Hpks
Rather Morbid.
Hey, that would be a great screen name!
I guess Jews and Muslims will not want to be on the list to receive those organs. Come to think of it, I’ll pass too!