Technology using pig lungs to filter human blood.

American scientists are testing technology to genetically modify pig lungs, making them capable of filtering human blood and potentially leading to future transplantation into humans.

According toNational GeographicIn the lab of Dr. Lars Burdorf at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA, scientists are testing CRISPR gene-editing technology to remove viruses harmful to humans from pig organs.

Although pig organs cannot currently be used for human transplantation, experiments involving transplanting pig organs into primates have achieved some success. By genetically modifying pig lungs to match human genes, they will no longer reject human blood, but instead oxidize it.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are waiting for organ transplants. CRISPR technology will change this game, allowing the use of animal organs for human transplantation. Pigs are the leading "mammal" candidates for organ harvesting, as their organs are similar in size to those of humans.

However, pig organs are often contaminated with porcine endogenous virus (PERV, similar to HIV), which can be harmful to humans. This is a limitation of using pig organs for human transplantation. CRISPR technology has opened up a new future, eliminating this limitation.

According to VNE