Half Pig, Half Human but All Science Surpise

A chimera creature came into being for the first time as a result of a complete fusion of human and pig blood cells.

Jeffrey Platt, of the Mayo Clinic, discovered the cell mixture at the most intimate level, The U.K.’s “New Scientist” said on January 15: the first-of-its kind discovery of half human half animal cells. The discovery was listed in the latest issue of “Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal .“

The researchers investigate the organ and blood of pigs that had received human stem cells to find an expanded number of fetuses in pig cells, which can be used to cure patients with damaged organs. Instead, they found hybrod cells.

The team also found that porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), which is present in almost all pigs, was also present in the hybrid cells. The PERV poses no threats to pigs but can be fatal to humans.

The findings will cause concern over the safety of the fusion of human stem cells into animals.

The discovery supports the theory that the HIV virus was transmitted from monkeys to humans, said the magazine. When a HIV-infected money bit a human that fused the HIV virus with stem cells, which in turn activates the expansion of the virus.

wolfkim@donga.com