Sheep-human hybrid developed in lab in breakthrough to solve organ donor shortage

Human-sheep hybrids could be the answer to curing diabetes and ending the organ transplant shortage after DNA defying creatures were created by scientists.

Hope grows over hybrid human-sheep organs

Man mixed with animal embryos were grown at Stanford university inside a “surrogate” to test the breakthrough.

Next, human stem cells will be planted into sheep embryos if permission is given to take the experiment to the next level. The embryos will be genetically modified so they cannot grow a pancreas and scientists hope human DNA will fill in the missing code.

If successful, an unlimited supply of human organs could be grown for harvesting. It is hoped the experiment can run for a further 70 days to establish whether human cells can create an organ. The American Association for the Advancement of Science in Austin heard from the man at the helm of the project, Dr Hiro Nakuachi. 

The expert claimed in just ten years human transplants using organs grown in animals could be successful. 

“We have already generate a mouse pancreas in rats and then transplanted those into a diabetic mouse and were able to show almost a complete cure without any immunosuppressants. 

“When it comes to human-sheep it seems more difficult. 

"So we would like to proceed a little longer and this time use organ-deficient embryos. 

“It could take five years or it could take ten years, but I think eventually we will be able to do this.”

Sheep organs could be harvested for human use in failing organ transplants

Humans living longer has created an organ donor shortage as more and more people join the list. 

The operations are becoming routine within UK hospitals. Robin Lovell-badge said there is still room for error since human bodies may reject animal-grown organs. 

The British scientist of the London’s Francis Crick Institutes said: “Even if they succeeded in replacing all pancreatic cell types in the sheep with human cells, the blood vessels within the pancreas will be sheep derived.” 

Surrogate animals are slaughtered after three weeks under laws on hybrid projects.