Last Updated on January 11, 2022 11: 23am
A man in Maryland was successfully implanted with a genetically modified pig heart at the University of Maryland Medical School.
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As per a statement by the university, the 57-year-old man, David Bennett is doing well three days after receiving the genetically modified pig heart in “first-of-its-kind transplant surgery”.
The statement said that Bennett had terminal heart disease, and the pig heart was the only currently available option for him.
He according to his medical records was said to be “ineligible” for a conventional heart transplant or an artificial heart pump.
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Before the surgery took place, Bennett said that he wanted to live and the surgery was his do or die option.
“It was either die or do this transplant”, he added.
The surgery took place on Friday, January 7, 2022, and after three days, it was revealed that he was doing fine.
The statement said that to make it possible, three genes that are responsible for the rejection of pig organs by human immune systems were removed from the donor pig.
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Along with that, another gene was taken out to prevent excessive pig heart tissue growth.
Following this, six human genes were inserted for immune acceptance.
Bennet will now be monitored for a few weeks to trace if the transplant worked well.