The process of transplanting organs from one species to another, especially from animals to humans.
Transplantation of organs from one species to another for example, from pigs to humans. The use of organs from appropriately cloned animals was seen as a possible solution to the shortage of human organs for transplantation. However, research has shown that rejection is a major problem and there is also an unresolved possibility that diseases might be transmitted across the species barrier. It seems likely that stem cell research will provide a more realistic source of tissues for transplantation to replace diseased organs in humans.
Transplantation of animal tissues or organs into humans.
Xenotransplantation involves transplanting an organ, like a heart or lung, from one species to another, such as from pigs to humans. Ongoing research in genetic engineering aims to modify pig embryos to produce organs that won’t be rejected by the human body after the transplant procedure.