How many of the given statement(s) are correct with respect to xenotransplantation?
A - In xenotransplantation genetically-altered pigs that express specific human proteins are used to transplant healthy organs into humans.
B - There are no risks of transfer of infectious diseases between animals and humans during xenotransplantation.
C - Loss of genetic identity of the organisms involved is one of the major ethical issues involved with xenotransplantation.
How many of the given statement(s) are correct with respect to xenotransplantation?
A - In xenotransplantation genetically-altered pigs that express specific human proteins are used to transplant healthy organs into humans.
B - There are no risks of transfer of infectious diseases between animals and humans during xenotransplantation.
C - Loss of genetic identity of the organisms involved is one of the major ethical issues involved with xenotransplantation.
The correct option is B 2
Organ transplantation is the act of surgically removing an organ from an individual (living or deceased) and placing it into another individual whose organ has failed or has been damaged due to illness or injury. A significant challenge with human organ transplantation is the availability of adequate number of donors.
Xenotransplantation or the process of transplanting cells, tissues or organs from one species to another is one the solutions that is being investigated by researchers to overcome the shortage of donors.
Transgenic pigs are bred by injecting a small amount of DNA (or genetic material) that resemble a human gene sequence into a fertilized pig egg. This egg is then implanted into a sow (female pig) such that she can give birth to the transgenic pig. The concerned organ from such a pig is transplanted into the human recipient.
However, the transfer of infectious pathogens from the pigs to the humans is a major risk associated with this process.
Species integrity is an idea that says that every organism, whether owned by humans or not, has the right to have its genetic constitution unaltered. Creating transgenic organisms is often criticised to be a form of maltreatment as it is believed to violate the integrity of a particular species.
For xenotransplantation the pigs are genetically modified to carry human genes which significantly alters their genetic makeup. Even human recipients carry pig tissues after a successful transplant. Thus loss of genetic integrity is an ethical issue involved with xenotransplantation.
Organ transplantation is the act of surgically removing an organ from an individual (living or deceased) and placing it into another individual whose organ has failed or has been damaged due to illness or injury. A significant challenge with human organ transplantation is the availability of adequate number of donors.
Xenotransplantation or the process of transplanting cells, tissues or organs from one species to another is one the solutions that is being investigated by researchers to overcome the shortage of donors.
Transgenic pigs are bred by injecting a small amount of DNA (or genetic material) that resemble a human gene sequence into a fertilized pig egg. This egg is then implanted into a sow (female pig) such that she can give birth to the transgenic pig. The concerned organ from such a pig is transplanted into the human recipient.
However, the transfer of infectious pathogens from the pigs to the humans is a major risk associated with this process.
Species integrity is an idea that says that every organism, whether owned by humans or not, has the right to have its genetic constitution unaltered. Creating transgenic organisms is often criticised to be a form of maltreatment as it is believed to violate the integrity of a particular species.
For xenotransplantation the pigs are genetically modified to carry human genes which significantly alters their genetic makeup. Even human recipients carry pig tissues after a successful transplant. Thus loss of genetic integrity is an ethical issue involved with xenotransplantation.
