Pigs to mix with people, should we want to? – NOS

“Can what?” That is the core of a discussion that has come up, now has become known that American scientists, embryos grow, partly human and partly pig. The goal is to get human organs to grow which are later transplanted.

“here go beyond your limits?”, also asks Guido de Wert, professor in the Ethics of reproductive medicine at the University of Maastricht. “The purpose, to combat a shortage of organs, is a fine, sympathetic. Who doesn’t want that? The question is: do we want this route to use?”

According to The Wert is, internationally, there is a lot of research done to create embryos that are part human and non-human cells, or chimaeren. Especially in the U.S., but also in a number of Asian countries.

“researchers are trying to in an embryo of a pig, or other mammal, the human cells that can develop into a specific organ. Where, at this point, especially to the develop a kidney or pancreas in an animal embryo.”

It would thus, in addition to artificial organs and the system in which someone is automatically a donor, one of the solutions for the shortage of donors. “But what about the risks for the patients? What about the welfare? We do not go hybrid creation of which we think: we want that really?” In short, it raises a lot of questions, sets The Value.

Also from comments on the NOS Facebook page, it appears that many people question this new way of cultivating donors. “Amazing that it can, but this is so against nature”, someone writes. “These animals are so deformed born. Animals are not our guinea pigs”, find another one.

“And what is it with this creature/baby happen when it is fully grown? Is it such a horror movie effect? That it is in a cage is waiting for his innards to be used?”, does anyone wonder.

There are also people who get to see it sit. “Very good development in the medical field. The decrease of the waiting time on organ transplants is, in my eyes, more important than in this case, the ‘sad’ animal.” And another comment: “As soon your own child is sick, a new body is needed and there are no suitable donor can be found, then you are so very, very happy if this development can help.”

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But according to De Wert is still long not so far as that we have bodies from the chimaera. “At this time, it goes to scientific research in laboratories and to the creation of hybrids between different species are mutually. Application for people, it really is still a long time.”

The Wert that time largely utilised to be to talk about the ethical side of the story. “But also to the political debate on the question: we see this as a sound contribution to combating the shortage of organs?”