(Medically Speaking) The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in Xenotransplantation

Sara Wilcox | Pages 49-52 | BioTeach Online Journal | Vol. 1 | Fall 2003

Xenotransplantion – the transplantation of organs from non-human animals to humans – may provide an unlimited supply of organs to patients suffering from chronic diseases, however, there are still many barriers to overcome before xenotransplantation can become common practice. There are many technical problems with xenotransplant including rejection, the possibility of a transfer of disease, and physical compatibility issues. As we get closer to unlocking the secrets of the immune system, xenotransplantation will undoubtedly become a major achievement in the field of science.