Xenotransplantation

PRESENTAtion

Xenotransplantation

start

Index

introduction

Ethical issues

how and why?

opinions

current situation

conclusion

Definition

Xenos tranplantation

[ˌziːnə(ʊ)]

[transplɑːnˈteɪʃ(ə)n]

Transplantation, implantation or infusion into human recipients of live cell, organs or tissues from an animal source

Timeline

A French doctor performed lamb blood transfusions on a boy

1667

An american doctor implanted a chimpanzee heart into a 68 year old man

1964

Scientists started using pigs as donors with a maximum survival time as of 3 to 5 days for the recipients

1970

How and Why?

How?

WHY?

Scientists make genetic mutations and changes to the pigs so they express human proteins that make it more difficult for the human system to identify porcine organs or tissues as belonging to a different species.

Xenotransplantation has the potential to increase organ supply and reduce waitlist mortality for critically illl people who require organ transplants.

Current Situation

• New approach to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of organs, tissues and cells.
• Thanks to advances in gene-editing tools has become more viable.
• Presence of immunological barriers which are limiting factores in clinical xeno transplantation.

Ethical issues

An experimental procedure:

• Is it ethically justified to perform clinical experiments while scientific uncertainties still appear large?

Animal rights:

• Is it ethically justified to raise animals for their organs as a for-profit enterprise?

Opinions

conflicting opinions

- 2/3 of the group is in favor of the Xenotransplantation - 1/3 of the group does not agree with Xenotransplantation

66%

Thanks!