Over 170 million citizens of the globe are registered as organ donors, yet only three in 1,000 are ever healthy or capable of having their organs harvested in the process. Each day, 17 people die on that waiting list, all due to the inability to receive those critical organs. Now, a new revelation has transformed the field of public health.
Scientists from all over the country have been working hard on mixing genetics and cell splicing to produce an extraordinary outcome, the creation of kidneys in embryos.
According to scientific research papers, scientists were able to inject human cells directly into the eggs of a pig, used for reproduction, and then insert them into a genetically modified pig to hold the new embryos.
After 28 days of growing, the kidneys grew to full size and were reported to be of normal structure but required more maturing to be fully usable.
Nevertheless, scientists are optimistic about the outcome and are looking forward to producing fully stable kidneys and other organs that could be extracted and used by humans.
Albeit, several other researchers have raised moral questions regarding the extraction of organs from pigs and also the possibility that human-implemented cells might affect other aspects of the animal in its functions and evolution.
Campus Ministry member Zachary Reburiano ’24 commented, “It is very important to keep in mind the ethical responsibilities of treating other animals as God created everything and everyone to be respectful to all,” yet adding, “on the other hand it is good that we are doing what’s best for saving lives on a massive scale.”
Biology student George Gamarra ’26 debated, “If someone who is passionate about animal cruelty is in need of a kidney, and the kidney shortage is a real problem right now, are they not going to take it from a pig?”
Moreover, others have inquired about the practice of inserting unnaturally-grown biological parts into the human body to replace and renew.
Environmental science student and science enthusiast Russell Shiu ’24, countered, “I see it as a vast improvement to human life; it has its uses,” continuing, “this may spark an ignition into a modern-day Renaissance, focused on advancing technology.”
Be that as it may, the development has been a long time in the making, with the first recorded attempt of building an organism with DNA from two different species originating in 2017 by the University of Texas.
While the complete product has a long way to go, optimism remains high on the future of health technology, yet also further explores the question of how far humans can meddle in creation.