Human Cells Beat in a Pig Embryo Heart for the First Time

A groundbreaking achievement in scientific research! Chinese scientists have successfully grown pig embryos containing human heart cells that survived for 21 days, with the tiny hearts beginning to beat. This research offers a potential solution to the global organ shortage. The team used gene editing to knock out two genes crucial for heart development in pig embryos and then injected human stem cells. Human cells successfully participated in heart formation, growing to the size of a human heart at a similar developmental stage. While the embryos eventually did not survive beyond 21 days, this study provides invaluable experience for future organ growth in animals for transplantation.