Xenotransplantation is the transportation of cells, tissues, or organs from one species to the other. This procedure could save lives...but is surrounded with controversy. We haven't seen a lot of this happening, for example heart transplants from a pig to a human. The medical community has to be cautious when putting other peoples lives at risk, especially if they are going to rely on an animal to save a humans life. But this brings up the question of should we let people die when we may have the animal resources to save them because the medical communtity wants to keep there names clear of controversy? Stem-cell research, although providing a great future for medicine, seems to be costing a lot at present with little progress. At some point I think we need to take a chance. Either we try to quicken the progress of stem-cell research, or we find alternative ways in the mean time. They are considering this in Australia today, and we have taken some risks with human to animal transplants combined with stem-cells. "Xenotransplantation has the potential to treat a wide range of life-threatening or debilitating conditions. For example, it is possible that isolated cells could be transplanted to treat diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Huntingdon's disease or strokes." I don't know how we as a medical community can go to sleep knowing that humans are dying because we don't have the right cure. We need to find a way to save more lives and xenotransplantation could be the answer!
Sources:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about/committees/expert/gtrap/xeno/index.htm
http://www.wikipedia.org
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