Researchers have created what they believe to be a suitable non-human organ donor by modifying more than 60 genes in pig embryos, according to Nature. The modifications represent a new world record - previously, only six genes have ever been modified in pig embryos.
Prior to the findings, scientists failed to create a steady supply of human transplant organs in pigs due to concerns about the human immune system and potential viruses in the pig genome.
"This is something I've been wanting to do for almost a decade," said George Church, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School who participated in the research.
Church and his colleagues used the gene-editing tool CRISPR to conduct the genetic modifications in the pig embryos to make them easier to transplant into humans, according to Popular Science.
Although Church is remaining quiet about the exact genes targeted in the work - as the findings are still unpublished - the modified genes are ones that encode proteins that are known to activate the human immune system as well as stimulate blood clotting.
The next step for researchers is to grow the modified pig embryos into actual pigs, harvest their organs and then test out their suitability for human transplantation, according to Softpedia. If the efforts are successful, pigs could become organ donors for humans in the near future.
The CRISPR technology also offers plenty of potential to be used in synthetic biology application and human therapy.