News Excerpt:

The first gene-edited pig organs ever transplanted into people came from animals born on a special research farm in the Blue Ridge mountains.

Process of Raising Gene-Edited Pigs for Organ Transplantation

Gene Modification:

• Scientists modify genes in pig skin cells, initially deleting a gene that produces a sugar named alpha-gal, which triggers immune system rejection in humans.
• Additional gene edits are made to remove other immune-triggering factors, lessen the risk of rejection and blood clots, and limit organ size.

Cloning:

• Cloning is done similarly to the process used to create Dolly the sheep.
• Eggs are retrieved from sow (adult female Pig) ovaries at slaughterhouses.These eggs are fertilized In-vitro. 
• Maternal DNA is removed, and genetic modifications are inserted.

• Electric shocks fuse the new DNA, activating embryo growth.

Embryo Implantation:

• Embryos are carried to the research farm in a handheld incubator.
• The embryos are implanted into waiting sows.

Raising Pigs:

• Pigs are raised in biosecure, air-conditioned barns with strict hygiene protocols. 
• Air and water are highly filtered, and feed is disinfected to prevent infections.
• Piglets are raised in pathogen-free environments to ensure their health and suitability for organ donation.

Organ Harvesting and Transplantation:

• Once the pigs reach the appropriate size and age, organs are harvested for transplantation.
• These organs are used for experimental transplants and clinical trials to evaluate their effectiveness and safety in humans.
• Last year, a Maryland team performed the world's first transplant of a genetically altered pig heart into a dying man. David Bennett survived for two months before the heart failed, with the presence of a pig virus later detected in the organ.

Way Ahead: 

• It will take years of clinical trials to prove whether xenotransplantation could work. But if successful, plans include even larger facilities capable of producing up to 2,000 organs a year. 
• The field is at a promising point, with studies indicating no immediate rejection. 
• The next few years are anticipated to be super exciting for this pioneering field.