Today, Explained
The man with a pig kidney
Apr 9, 2024
In this discussion, Dylan Matthews, a senior correspondent at Vox and author of "Why I Gave My Kidney to a Stranger and Why You Should Consider Doing It Too," delves into the groundbreaking transplant of a pig kidney into a human. He highlights the ethical concerns about using animal organs and advocates for human kidney donations instead. Matthews shares his personal journey of living with one kidney, emphasizing the emotional and physical aspects of donation, and exploring alternatives to alleviate organ shortages.
25:45
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Quick takeaways
- Genetically engineered pig kidneys offer a solution to human organ shortages in transplants.
- Ethical debates arise on compensating organ donors and commercializing transplantation practices.
Deep dives
The Breakthrough in Using Pig Kidneys for Transplants
The podcast discusses a groundbreaking scientific achievement where a genetically modified pig kidney was successfully transplanted into a human recipient, Rick Slamen. This milestone marks a significant advancement in organ transplantation as it signifies the first living human recipient of a pig kidney. The transplant appears to be successful so far, with Rick experiencing improved health and no longer requiring dialysis treatments. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for addressing the shortage of human kidneys available for transplants.
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