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Zanjani's human-sheep Chimera
Scientists hope to be able to use animals such as sheep as proper organ donors for humans

The University of Nevada's professor Esmail Zanjani has successfully created the world's first human-sheep chimera, comprised of 85 percent animal cells along with 15 percent human cells.  The animal has the body of a common sheep with organs that are all half-human.  So far, Zanjani has put seven years of research and around ~$9 million of money into the research, with the injections of human cells into a sheep's fetus as one of the crucial steps.

Zanjani also has successfully created a sheep liver that is composed of a large amount of human cells.  The overall goal behind the research is to be able to use animal organs as a viable option when humans need an organ transplant.  Ultimately, stem cells would be taken from the donor and injected into a sheep's fetus.  After a lamb is born in about two months, the heart, lungs, liver and brain could all be compatible with the donor.

Zanjani's research on this particular project has undergone trials for years, with the first proposals initiated in 2000.  His original paper published seven years ago is still publically available.

Announcement of the research will also give further life to an ongoing bio-ethical debate that is going on around the world.  One of the criticisms of the research includes the possibility of creating a type of "biological nightmare in humans."  Silent viruses, completely harmless to animals, could be passed to humans, warns Patrick Dixon, an international lecturer on biological trends.

On the other hand, if Zanjani's research flourishes, organ donor waitlists may become a thing of the past.

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Awesome, BUT...
By therealnickdanger on 3/28/2007 6:58:17 PM , Rating: 5
Hopefully they don't try to sell the leftover meat to grocery stores. It's almost like cannabalism... kinda creepy. I'm anxious to see how this will play out. This could very well be the most important medical breakthrough ever. Ever.

Invest in stock tomorrow if you can.




RE: Awesome, BUT...
By arswihart on 3/28/07, Rating: -1
RE: Awesome, BUT...
By James Holden on 3/28/2007 7:06:36 PM , Rating: 4
What was so asinine about it? This is *huge* news if it turns out to be true. I had an uncle die on a waitlist.


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By arswihart on 3/29/07, Rating: 0
RE: Awesome, BUT...
By James Holden on 3/29/2007 10:49:58 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
The bulk of people who get organ transplants get them because the took poor care of themselves, that is a fact.

You're kidding me right? CHD, Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmia -- all clearly the patients fault. Get a clue kid.


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By arswihart on 3/29/07, Rating: 0
RE: Awesome, BUT...
By porkpie on 3/29/2007 1:27:38 PM , Rating: 1
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is most common in young adults, and certainly not the result of "lifestyle choices". Arrhythmias are generally the result of heart disease, and can result from hundreds of different factors...many of which, again, have nothing to do with lifestyle choices.

> "I'm a doctor, for your information..."

A very poorly educated one, it seems.


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By arswihart on 3/29/07, Rating: 0
RE: Awesome, BUT...
By masher2 (blog) on 3/29/2007 2:17:07 PM , Rating: 3
> "I'm just saying its not the most important medical breakthrough, ever"

If that was all you were saying, I would have agreed. Sanitation takes the cake hands down. However, you had to follow up with this little gem:

quote:
It saddens me that humans will put this burden on millions of animals without blinking an eye, using their bodies to grow up organs so they can continue living an unhealthy lifestyle...
Everyone deserves a chance at life, even those with "unhealthy lifestyles".


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By teldar on 3/29/2007 4:23:39 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
Everyone deserves a chance at life, even those with "unhealthy lifestyles".


I'm a nurse in an ICU at a tertiary care center. We're a general ICU with medical and surgical patients as well as traumas. We take it all.

I have to say, there are a ton of people who kill themselves off. As far as having a chance at life, many of these people have had their chance at live and have decided to do cocaine until their heart is so hypertrophic it cannot function, they drink until their livers are shot, and even as important to me, are so noncompliant with things like blood pressure meds and diabetic meds they have to get their limbs amputated.

I think they have had their chance at life, and they have had no desire to keep themselves healthy. The doc is right. People do themselves in. From what I see, I would say the vast majority of transplant patients cause their own organs to fail. Not 100%, but most.


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By arswihart on 3/29/2007 6:27:28 PM , Rating: 1
Thank you for that breath of fresh air teldar. You seem to be the only person on here who knows what I'm talking about. I don't blame the lay person for not being aware of these things, but it's amazing how everyone has come down on me like I'm some demon from hell for saying anything. Everything you said is right on!


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By masher2 (blog) on 3/30/2007 2:46:00 AM , Rating: 2
> "I'm a nurse in an ICU...the vast majority of transplant patients cause their own organs to fail"

In your own little world, perhaps. I've already posted statistics that show for kidney and pancreas failures, the majority of cases are not due to lifestyle choices. For transplants like corneal, bone marrow, essentially zero are lifestyle related. In the case of liver disease only, you have a case.

Currently, there are several thousand children on organ donor waitlists in the US. Do you consider a child under the age of 12 as "responsible" for their organ failure?

> "I think they have had their chance at life."

Perhaps, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we could give them another? Isn't that the esssence of humanity itself?


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By arswihart on 3/30/2007 11:00:53 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
Currently, there are several thousand children on organ donor waitlists in the US. Do you consider a child under the age of 12 as "responsible" for their organ failure?

This is yet another unfair comment. The nurse said nothing about this population of patients. Quit inciting arguments out of thin air.

>> "I think they have had their chance at life."
quote:
Perhaps, but wouldn't it be wonderful if we could give them another? Isn't that the esssence of humanity itself?


Not when they are still abusing their bodies. I really don't think someone should continue living indefinitely if they choose to treat there body as if it were disposable.


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By masher2 (blog) on 3/30/2007 11:11:37 AM , Rating: 2
> "The nurse said nothing about this population of patients..."

Oh yes he did. He claimed that "nearly all" those waiting for a transplant brought the problem on themselves. I pointed out just one of the numerous groups of people who did not, thereby disproving his assumption.

> "I really don't think someone should continue living indefinitely if they choose to treat there body as if it were disposable"

I don't think anyone-- certainly not a doctor-- should ever make the decision about when another person deserves to "continue living" or not. You mentioned slippery slopes earlier...do you not see how far you yourself have slid?


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By arswihart on 3/30/2007 11:46:55 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
Oh yes he did.

You are a moron, dude. I have to struggle to even respond to your illogical arguing. If you don't agree, please just say, I disagree, instead of continuing to take quotes out of context / warping what was said.

"Nearly all" is taking it over the top, which I have been guilty of as well, for arguments sake, but we have always noted (including me in my 2nd post above) that I am generalizing, that there is are large populations that cannot prevent their own disease! Do you think I'm not aware of that! How many times do I have to say it!

quote:
I don't think anyone-- certainly not a doctor-- should ever make the decision about when another person deserves to "continue living" or not. You mentioned slippery slopes earlier...do you not see how far you yourself have slid?

Wha? Again you boggle my mind. A person who has brought themselve close to death by there own actions can only be saved by a doctor, if the doctor has to do an organ transplant to prolong their life, that is an extraordinary measure by all means. A doctor doesn't have to decide anything in order for the person to die, they will die regardless unless extraordinary measures are taken. That is hardly even close to being a good example of the slippery slope. I hope this is the last reply I have to make to you. You have proven to be terribly misinformed and your arguments are childish and easy to refute. Go dig a hole.


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By masher2 (blog) on 3/30/2007 11:53:17 AM , Rating: 1
> ""Nearly all" is taking it over the top"

So in one post you agree with , then the next admit she's incorrect? A strange debating tactic you have. And you've still failed to challenge the fact that your original statement was incorrect. "Most" people do not bring organ failure on themselves.

> "A doctor doesn't have to decide anything in order for the person to die..."

I'll explain again, this time using smaller words. The issue isn't the action taken itself, its the value judgement made on whether or not the person "deserves" to die.

You've admitted to believing that the life of an alchoholic, or even a moderately obese person has less value than that of a sheep. That's the value judgement of a fascist pig...not a person who deserves to associate with decent human society.


RE: Awesome, BUT...
By arswihart on 3/30/2007 3:51:03 PM , Rating: 2
You are an unhappy, smug little (wo)man who speaks to people as if they are idiots. In contrast to you, I actually listen to what have said and respond appropriately. You just disregard most of what I am saying and then pick and choose text snippets, taken out of context and warped, to use them against me. It is doing nothing to advance this debate except incite frustration, because you refuse to see my views the way I have presented them. You have done nothing but attack me, providing no positive ideas of your own. I'm not going to continue to dignify your continued rambling with a response.