What is xenotransplantation?

Heterologous transplantation refers to transplanting organs or tissues of one genus to a part of another genus. As we all know, the supply of human-derived organs is in a serious "short supply" state. Influenced by traditional ideas, China's organ donation rate is notoriously low among major countries, which makes the shortage of transplanted organs more serious, and further leads to various social problems such as black market sale of organs.

All living things on the earth are descended from one family in evolution, and have different degrees of consistency in many basic physiological, biochemical and genetic mechanisms. However, there are no essential differences in the functions and structures of many organs among different species in mammals to which human beings belong, and their basic operation modes are similar. In this way, from the physiological and anatomical point of view, cross-species organ transplantation seems inevitable.

However, the specific performance and size of organs still need to be considered. Although primate compatriots are closest to humans, most of their members are too young to meet the needs of human metabolism. Moreover, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans and other large apes are endangered rare animals, and their status is noble and they can't move at all.

Since "Big Brother" Monkey Sun can't count on it, we have to trouble "Second Brother" Pig Bajie to sacrifice.

Although there are great differences in classification between pigs and humans, one is Artiodactyla and the other is primate, they are generally close to humans in external indicators such as body shape, feeding habits and metabolic level, and some organs of pigs are basically at the same level as humans in "performance parameters". In addition, pigs are convenient for directional reproduction and large-scale reproduction, which is obviously a good potential source of organ transplantation.