There are more than 120,000 people in the U.S. waiting for an organ transplant and not enough donors. The dire shortage has led some researchers to consider an unusual solution: They are breeding genetically modified pigs whose organs could be compatible for human transplant. Researchers have been trying for decades to make animal-to-human transplants work, a process known as xenotransplantation. Pigs are a particularly promising source of organs. They produce big litters. Organs such as the kidney and liver are similar in...
Scientists are looking to xenotransplantation , the use of genetically modified pigs , to fill the shortfall of human organs for transplant , with CRISPR gene - editing technology helping to ensure the organs are compatible with human patients . Scientists at EGenesis Bio have used CRISPR to inactivate viral remnants in the pigs , while a team at the University of Minnesota is using the gene - editing tool to study insulin - producing pig pancreatic islets . The US Food and Drug Administration said plans to start human studies would be " evaluated on a case - by - case basis " .