Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Scientists Grow Pig's Heart On Sheep's Neck

Posted by michael on from the wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve dept.

t0rnt0pieces writes "Yahoo! News reports that Nebraska scientists say they successfully grafted a pig's heart to a sheep by manipulating the immune systems of both animals, a step that may soon allow scientists to grow organs for human transplantation. Trials using pig organs to transplant into humans are on the way. Besides hearts, the technology could be applicable to kidney, liver and pancreatic islet cell transplants. Take a look at a picture of one of the sheep here."

11 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. obSimpsons... by Dr.+Photo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now they can make pork, ham and bacon all come from the same animal... :P

  2. Genetical Engineering Ranch by jkujawa · · Score: 2, Funny

    This sheep has only one ass! It's useless to me!

  3. Why... by sl8r · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...didn't they go for something more important, like wings on the back of a pig?

    1. Re:Why... by cornjchob · · Score: 2, Funny

      Or they could sew a bird onto the back of a rodent.

      "Look, I made a pigeon rat"

      --
      We now have confirmed reports from an informed Orange County minister that Ethel is still an active communist.
  4. anyone else thinking... by (trb001) · · Score: 4, Funny

    ewe...

  5. urgh. by Hubert_Shrump · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just when I was getting tired of ASCIId goatsex, they made goat horror new again.

    Thank you, science!

    --
    Keep your packets off my GNU/Girlfriend!
  6. Nebraska, eh? by Theaetetus · · Score: 1, Funny
    Darn Redneck hick scientists... Next step is they're going to try to put a pig's heart in a '59 Chevy.

    -T

  7. Just in time for Valentine's Day! by Single+GNU+Theory · · Score: 3, Funny

    And what better way to say, "I love you" than with the gift of a heart-shaped... uh, heart.

    --
    Little Debian: America's #1 Snack Distro!
  8. Alright nobody said it by Lord_Of_The_Beer · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have heard of wearing your heart on a sleeve but this is absurd.

    --
    D.A.K.D.A.E.---- Deny all Knowledge, Destroy All Evidence
  9. Biology Lab Valentine by Guppy · · Score: 2, Funny

    "And what better way to say, "I love you" than with the gift of a heart-shaped... uh, heart."

    In one of my biology labs, there was a story about a student who presented his fair lady with a heart shaped box one Valentine's day. But instead of chocolates, the box contained, well...

    Let me digress for a moment with a bit of Biology trivia. A turtle's heart will continue to beat for a considerable length of time after being removed from the body. Thanks to it's low metabolic rate and stable SA (pacemaker) node, it can continue to pulse slowly for days, if kept moist with an appropriate salt solution.

    So... this girl opens the box and there's a beating heart in there. Unfortunately, the story doesn't record her reaction. However, I have my doubts as to whether the fellow got anywhere with his gift.

  10. So what? by phorm · · Score: 2, Funny

    We've already grown humans with assess attached to the top of their necks. Currently they were last seem working in RIAA adminstration...