Scince Daily had reported via EurekaAlert a research published in journal of molecular cell biology that scientists have managed to induce cells from pigs to transform into pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent cells aare cells like embryonic stem cells, are capable of developing into any type of cell in the body.
It is a breakthrough. It is the first time in the world that this has been achieved using somatic cells (cells that are not sperm or egg cells) from any animal with hooves or ungulates.
The research could pave way for creating models for human genetic diseases, genetically engineering animals for organ transplants for humans, and for developing pigs that are resistant to diseases such as swine flu.
Full report is available here
About Arun Pal Singh