Xenotransformation

AISHWARIA MAXWELL Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Class of 2023

Pigs bear a small semblance to humans physically. With a conicalshaped head, a stubby prominent nose, and grayish-pink skin, pigs seem almost unidentical to humans. Thankfully, not all scientists saw these mammals so superficially and examined the organ reservoir within the specimen to note some uncanny similarities with humans. In 1993, Groth carried out the first clinical pig islet transplant and since then, pigs have become the unsung hero for many awaiting a transplant. Of course, only some organs mimicked the structure and abilities of human organs. And the arrival of the age of Genetic Engineering provoked a change in the standstill development of xenotransplantation.

This piece is expository in its intention to demonstrate a pig’s transformation to a human-like pig. The article inspiring this piece described a new CRISPR-based method that removed many of the original complications that came with genetically engineering a pig. The article describes the relative ease, quickness, and accuracy of using the CRISPR system that almost makes the process seem so quick. However, this piece is set with an ominous tone, given the ambiguous nature of genetic engineering in terms of its regulations and long-term effects.