Eshan Maitra
The story is as much exciting as it sounds like. This baboon seems to be totally in perfect condition and living a healthy life for past 3 years. With a Pig’s heart! This cross-species transplant is not only a big record but also a great breakthrough in medical science.
“But their heart is not even of the same size!” Well, yes. The pig’s organ was only put into the baboon’s abdomen as an extra. That is not the actual amazing fact. The amazing fact is that, his immune and organ system totally accepted without any preventive reaction toward it. The Pig’s heart has been living happily. General fact, if a baboon can go through this transplantation process, humans are no different. Since, we both share similar DNA. If this can promise that inner-species organ transplant is possible. This could save millions. Researchers from the US National Institute of Health first adapted this idea and this practice is called xenotransplantation. They even think that, cross-species transplantation can even extend the survival rate of the organ. Even beyond two-years mark! Lead researcher Muhammad Mohiuddin sounded very promising sharing this with the Science magazine. Still, lots of it is in the development.
Theresearchers are also facing some ethical concerns as well. They only tested pigs’ hearts so far in this xenotransplantation.