Researchers to begin growing human cells in pig embryos

Scientists believe bid to grow pancreas could pave way for full range of organs to be grown and harvested

Scientists have begun the process of trying to grow human organs inside pigs in an attempt to solve the worldwide shortage for transplants.

Researchers from the University of California, Davis have injected human stem cells into pig embryos to produce human-pig embryos known as chimeras.

The human-pig chimeric embryos will look like a normal pig’s embryo, but one of their organs – the pancreas – will be made completely from human cells, the team said. They will be allowed to develop in the sows for 28 days before the pregnancies are terminated and the tissue removed for analysis.

Pablo Ross, a reproductive biologist who is leading the research, told the BBC: “Our hope is that this pig embryo will develop normally but the pancreas will be made almost exclusively out of human cells and could be compatible with a patient for transplantation.”

Critics say the research could lead to the development of organ farms.

Peter Stevenson from Compassion in World Farming told the BBC: “Let’s first get many more people to donate organs. If there is still a shortage after that we can consider using pigs...”

Other concerns relate to the possibility that the implanted human cells might migrate to the developing pig’s brain and make it more human.

Professor Ross said: “We think there is very low potential for a human brain to grow, but this is something we will be investigating,” he said.

Pigs could be used to grow donor human organs if the research is a success.