Why xenotransplants through pigs are making headlines

YES... HAM AND BACON PLEASE.

Not exactly. Ever heard of cross-species organ transplantation aka xenotransplants?

WHAT IN GOD’S NAME IS THAT?

It is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another.

WHERE EXACTLY ARE YOU GOING HERE?

Believe it or not, pigs might soon extend the lives of people waiting for organ donations. A US-German research team has been working on cross-species organ transplantation. With the help of gene modification and special drugs, they have found possibilities of transplanting pigs' hearts in human beings.

A PIG’S HEART INSIDE A HUMAN BODY?

Yes. In fact, scientists at the US National Institutes for Health have already tried it in baboons. Pig hearts have stayed alive inside baboons for over two years without being rejected by the host's body. WELL, HUMANS ARE NO BABOONS. No, but in what scientists said, it was a path-breaking step towards using genetically modified pig hearts in humans.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED PIGS?

Yes. The pig is thought to be an ideal candidate for animal-to-human transplants because of its size and DNA. The better the pig is, the better will be the survival of these transplants. So they are being ‘custom-made’ you can say.

AND THE WORK IS ON?

Yes. In 2002, two biotechnology companies announced that they had produced pigs whose organs wouldn’t prompt an immediate rejection when placed in the human body.

I CAN’T REALLY IMAGINE A PIG’S HEART BEATING INSIDE ME!

As promising as this result appears to be, it may not represent the future of organ transplants. Methods like bioprinting and coldstorage are making better progress.

WELL, AS OF NOW, THE MUPPETS ARE RUINED.
Miss Piggy’s heart was anyways with Kermit. Let it not spoil your brunch of ham and bacon now.