The world's first pig-monkey chimeras have been born in China, scientists have announced. Researchers injected monkey stem cells into fertilized pig embryos then implanted them into sows and allowed pregnancy to continue to full term. The two hybrid piglets both died within a week of being born, the team said.
Chimeras are organisms made of cells from two genetically distinct individuals—normally two different species. The word comes from Greek mythology, with Chimera being a fire-breathing creature composed of a lion, goat and serpent.
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In genetics, it is hoped chimeras could one day result in human organs being grown inside animals that can then be transplanted. Shortages of organs for transplants is a problem facing nations across the world—according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are over 113,000 currently on the waiting list for a transplant in the U.S.
Earlier this year, Spanish newspaper El Pais announced researchers in China had created a human-monkey chimera, inserting human stem cells into monkey embryos. These embryos were not left to develop into a live birth, but biologist Estrella Núñez, from the Murcia Catholic University in Spain, told the newspaper the initial results were "very promising."
