19 votes

Doctors transplant a genetically modified pig heart into a human for the first time

5 comments

  1. moocow1452
    Link
    Medicine is wild. Even if this sort of technology can only be used on human organs, to never have an organ rejection or have to turn off the immune system is an amazing leap.

    Medicine is wild. Even if this sort of technology can only be used on human organs, to never have an organ rejection or have to turn off the immune system is an amazing leap.

    5 votes
  2. [3]
    Jedi
    Link
    Update: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/health/heart-transplant-pig-bennett.html It’s so disappointing. Hopefully his death was unrelated, we probably won’t know for a while, but it’s pretty...

    Update: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/health/heart-transplant-pig-bennett.html

    The first person to have his failing heart replaced with that of a genetically altered pig in a groundbreaking operation died Tuesday afternoon at the University of Maryland Medical Center, two months after the transplant surgery.

    It’s so disappointing. Hopefully his death was unrelated, we probably won’t know for a while, but it’s pretty incredible what they were able to achieve nonetheless.

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      Bonooru
      Link Parent
      I'm not sure about that. I think two months is pretty great for a first time. None of the early human/human transplants lasted very long either, so hopefully this is a good sign for the future.

      I'm not sure about that. I think two months is pretty great for a first time. None of the early human/human transplants lasted very long either, so hopefully this is a good sign for the future.

      3 votes
      1. AugustusFerdinand
        Link Parent
        Correct. The first artificial heart transplant went to Barney Clark, he lived for 112 days. Takes a long time to get these things figured out, but when they are generally understood and reliable,...

        Correct. The first artificial heart transplant went to Barney Clark, he lived for 112 days. Takes a long time to get these things figured out, but when they are generally understood and reliable, they're world changing.

        3 votes
  3. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. Adys
      Link Parent
      Have you had a stroke?

      Have you had a stroke?

      2 votes