Mustafa Enes Şahin
21200752
Eng 102 Sec: 30
Ayşe Akçam
15.04.2014
Research Paper Question: What factors should be considered when deciding xenotransplantation?
XENOTRANSPLANTATION
There have been numerous developments in the subject of biotechnology. One of these advancements contains xenotransplantation. It is the transplantation of living tissues, cells or organs from one species to another. For example, it covers transplantation of vital organs like heart, kidney and also skin graft, bone transplant s, corneal transplants. The purpose of human xenotransplantation is that it proposes a possible solution for the problem of the shortage in human organs because the number of accessible organs is not equal to the number of needed organs. For instance, according to M. Anderson’s article the number of people waiting for an allotransplant (it refers to a same-species transplant such as human-to-human.) is progressively increasing without organ donations. In addition, approximately half of those demanding an organ transplant will die while on the organ donor waiting list (Anderson 205). Furthermore, it can also be used to treatment other illness where there is a scarcity of human material accessible such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, diabetes. As we can see, in theory xenotransplantation provides good solution for human beings, however, when look at the history we cannot see same good things. For instance, in 1964, a scientist who is Keith Reemstma transplanted a chimpanzee kidney into a human with end period nephritic disease, increasing the participator’s life a record nine months (Anderson 205). However, there is another case which is Baby Fae. In this case doctors transplanted a baboon hearth into the baby and he survived just four w...
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...ticle some diseases rooted in animals such as HIV, Ebola, and Hepatitis B Therefore, xenotransplantation may cause new and dangerous diseases which are undiscovered. In addition, the most significant problem is the risk of spreading infectious illnesses to the broader population. For this reason, according to Mark J. Hanson xenotransplantation represents a possible danger to the communal well-being even though it supplies a few advantage to individual patients. Moreover, according to Olakanmi and Purdy pigs harbor a diversity of identified and unidentified bacteria and viruses and also according to Mark J. Hanson article pigs are often used as a source for heart valves and sometimes for skin transplant. These evidences demonstrate that this situation may cause an epidemic because some organisms may harmless to pigs but they might be a source of danger to humans.
Thesis: I will explain the history of organ transplants, starting with ancient ideas before modern science until the 21st century.
The progression of modern science and technology has often challenged old, time-worn notions. Nowhere does this seem truer than in biology and medicine, as these fields have changed drastically in recent decades and also relate so closely to the actual substance of how people live. One such development is what is called xenotrans-plantation or the transplantation of organs or cells across species—particularly notable when from a non-human species into a human. The very fact that the procedure is possible is telling as regards the inherently ephemeral nature of the distinction of humans from other animals. It may be useful to first outline how xenotransplantation works, however.
The medical procedure of Xenotransplantation, (transplanting animal organs into humans) has been happening for many years, this medical practice was proceeding mixed results and mixed views regarding the procedure. In the year 1984, a baby girl whom was named Baby Fae by medical staff, became known world wide for the medical procedure she endured. Baby Fae had a potentially fatal heart problem, she was suffering from Hypoplastic left heart syndrome which is a fatal disease if not treated by surgery, (Time Magazine, 1984). The only way to save her was to replace her failing heart with a healthy seven month old baboon heart. The medical professionals that were working on Baby Fae were excited to be able to perform this Xenotransplantation on the infant. After the procedure Baby Fae was acting like any normal healthy infant would. But unfortunately, the replacement heart surgery wasn’t a true success story as the medical staff had hoped. Baby Fae died 20 days after her surgery because her tiny body rejected the baboons heart, which then went on to cause other fatal damage such as kidney...
In America, there are currently 122,198 candidates on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) waiting list (“OPTN”). Due to a lack of available organ donors, around 18 waiting list candidates will die every day (“OPTN”). This has prompted the development and investigation of xenotransplantation—the transplantation of animal tissue and organs to potential human candidates. Currently in its early phases of development and study, xenotransplantation is controversial for its high failure rate, with only a few cases successful. This is attributed to the human immune system rejecting those animal donated organs, thereby potentially causing immediate death to the human candidate. On the one hand, pre-clinical trials have broadened the understanding of the human immune system, as well as furthered xenotransplantation research. However, because xenotransplantation has achieved little success, opponents of the procedure argue that it is unethical to continue its practice. It is also important to note that trials often use baboons in place of humans, which presents several variables to be examined before further human trials can begin. Moreover, the potential acquisition of zoonotic infection is a serious risk that cannot be fully determined without the use of human subjects. Thus, not only will xenotransplantation require more extensive study, it will also require hundreds of animal lives, all in an effort to create nothing more than a last resort.
Currently 70,000 Americans are on the organ waiting list and fewer than 20,000 of these people can hope to have their lives saved by human organ transplantation.1 As a result of this shortage, there has been a tremendous demand for research in alternative methods of organ transplantation. Private companies are racing to develop these technologies with an estimated market of six billion dollars.2 Xenotransplantation, or cross-species organ transplantation, appears to be the most likely solution in the near future, and cloned pigs are the main candidates. Pigs and humans have remarkable similarities in physiology, which along with cloning makes pigs strong possibilities for organ donors. A controversial alternative method involves the use of genetically altered headless human beings as organ donors. Although this method may not be developed for some years, scientists are already discussing the necessary technologies. Whether the solution is the cloning of a pig or a human, organ farms may provide us with a solution to our ever-increasing need for donors.
In the last few years, progress has been made toward successfully using animal organs in humans who need transplants, an operation called xenotransplantation. The biggest obstacle has been preventing the body from destroying the transplant as a foreign body. The speed of rejection depends on the species and tissue involved. In transplants between discordant species, such as pig to human, the recipient has natural antibodies against the donor organ. In untreated discordant vascularized xenografts, hyperacute rejection (HAR) occurs within minutes or hours after transplantation.
... date. By contrast, the transplantation of baboon livers and chimpanzee kidneys into humans had resulted in deaths due to illnesses not related to organ failure.
Exotic animals carry diseases and infections that can be potentially harmful or fatal to humans, jeopardizing the safety of the community. These diseases range in severity from common ringworm infections from African pygmy hedgehogs to lyssaviruses in p...
Center for food Safety. “New peer reviewed study on gmo pig feed reveals adverse effects.” N.P., 11 June 2013
The purpose of this paper is to focus on a subject within my educational field that I can research and inform the public about. I plan to become a veterinarian .which would require my daily contact with humans and animals. Zoonotic diseases are risk factors that I have to be aware of in order to protect myself as well as my patients and their owners. Luckily developments in medicine have made it possible to cure zoonotic diseases and even prevent them from ever being contracted.
“Transplanting animal organs into humans is feasible.” USA Today. November 1999: 54-55. Gehlsen, Gale M., Ganion, Larry R. and Robert Helfst.
"XENOTRANSPLANTATION: The Benefits and Risks of Special Orga Transplantation." BIO. Biotechnology Industry Organization, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.
The current issue facing societies around the world is human-animal hybrids experiments. These experiments are viewed in two lights, positive and negative. The positive of having these tests are that scientists could rid the world of diseases. However on the other hand people see these studies as inhumane and detrimental to everyone’s well being. This paper will be broken down into 6 areas including (1) a brief history of hybrid experiments dating within the decade, (2) a view of the stakeholders in the issue at hand, (3) how people would interact with humans receiving these treatments, (4) cultural and ethical considerations, (5) problems still at hand, and (6) a conclusion.
The concepts of human enhancement and biotechnology are fairly new terms in the world of ethics and medicine. These words, although far from being unfamiliar, are not often heard in the medical field except in special cases. However, in the past few years, the research and use of biotechnology is on the rise and becoming more prevalent under certain situations. This week’s reading focuses on the issues of biotechnology in a historical and modern context, yet also addresses the pros and cons of such developments.
"Xenotransplantation – Ethical Considerations Based on Human and Societal Perspectives." Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. March 31, 2004. http://www.actavetscand.com/content/45/S1/S65.