Japan OK's mutant rat-human births
July 31, 2019
Japan has become the first country to allow the birthing of human-animal embryos to create human organs.
Experts at the Science Ministry approved a proposal by University of Tokyo researcher Hiromitsu Nakauchi to grow human stem cells in mouse, rat and pig embryos and then transplant those cells into another animal, according to Nature magazine.
Nakauchi hopes to eventually create animals with complete human organs that could be transferred into a human body.
Read more: Scientists grow kidneys in rats from mouse stem cells
In March, Japan lifted a ban on developing human-animal embryos beyond 14 days or bringing them to term. The ban also forbade scientists from transplanting organs developed in animal embryos to other animals.
Human cells have been grown in animal embryos in other countries. However, none of those embryos were brought to term.
'Genetic distance' a problem
Bioethicists say the research could have unintended consequences if some of the human cells were transferred to the animal's brain. Nakauchi told Nature, however, that the interventions are designed to only affect the organ that he plans to grow.
In 2017, the researcher effectively cured a diabetic mouse by growing a healthy mouse pancreas in a rat embryo before transplanting it into the sick mouse.
Read more: Japanese researchers grow skin and hair using reprogrammed stem cells
Mice, rats and pigs are not the best hosts for the development of human organs because of the "genetic distance" between their cells and human cells. Nakauchi hopes that his experiments will help scientists better understand the problem.
Japan's Science Ministry is expected to give the project its final approval in August.