Tiny human hearts grown in pig embryos for the first time
NATURE.COM
science
SUMMARY

Chinese scientists have successfully grown pig embryos with functioning hearts containing human cells for the first time. This breakthrough, reported at the International Society for Stem Cell Research conference, utilizes gene technologies to create chimeric embryos.

Previous experiments enabled the growth of human blood vessel and muscle cells in pigs. The ultimate aim is to cultivate human organs in pigs for transplantation. Researchers genetically modified human stem cells to enhance survival and injected them into pig embryos lacking specific heart genes.

The embryos developed for up to 21 days, but researchers warned human cells may have disrupted heart function.

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