Xenotransplantation, transplanting animal’s organs into humans, has been studied in research for a long time and is the wave of the future. Human-to-human organ donation is always in high demand and is very often difficult to procure in a timely fashion to save lives. Being able to implement animal-to-human transplantation on a routine basis would make saving human lives much easier.
Porcine Skin Transplants: A Lifesaving Option
This article by QZ speaks of research in porcine skin transplants. Skin is the largest organ of the body and is critical in the immune system. Currently skin grafts come from human cadavers and patients that elect to have excess skin removed. Patients that have been badly burned are always in need of skin grafts. Porcine skin is incredibly similar to human skin with the exception of the fact that porcine skin produces a sugar that humans do not. Through genetic modification, this sugar production in the porcine skin has been deleted so it is more conducive to human transplantation.
How Porcine Tissue Supports Biomedical Research into Skin Grafts
This is yet another example of how porcine tissue help biomedical research. In addition to porcine tissue, we also offer clients expert consultation and custom tissue harvesting services.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Xenotransplantation is the process of transplanting organs or tissues from animals into humans to address organ shortages.
Pigs have organs and tissues that are biologically similar to humans. Their size, structure, and function closely match ours, making them ideal for research and potential transplants.
Pigs provide a variety of tissues for biomedical research, including pancreatic islet cells, heart valves, and other organs for studying diseases and developing therapies.
