pigtohuman

Pigtohuman is a term used to describe the concept of pig-derived biology and genetic modification aimed at compatibility with human biology. It is not a formal scientific designation but appears in discussions of xenotransplantation and related chimera research. The term encompasses efforts to use pig organs or tissues for human medical use and to create pig–human chimeras for research or therapeutic purposes.

In scientific contexts, pig-to-human work primarily falls into xenotransplantation and chimera studies. Xenotransplantation seeks to transplant pig organs or tissues into humans to address organ shortages, while chimera research involves introducing human cells into pig embryos or generating pig organs with human cellular components. Techniques include genetic modification to reduce immune rejection (for example, knocking out pig xenoantigen genes and adding human genes to improve compatibility), as well as genome editing with CRISPR and methods such as blastocyst complementation to produce humanized tissues.

Status and prospects: progress has been made in preclinical models and early clinical discussions, but no widely approved pig-to-human organ transplants are routine. Major scientific hurdles include immune rejection, risk of cross-species pathogen transfer, and ensuring organ function and safety. Legal and ethical considerations—animal welfare, consent frameworks, and biosafety—shape regulatory pathways and funding.

See also: xenotransplantation; chimeric research; organ transplantation.