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When injected with rat stem cells as embryos, mice that were unable to produce their own pancreas grew a rat one instead, according to researchers at the University of Tokyo in Japan. The pancreas, comprised of nearly all rat cells, seemed to function perfectly—the mice showed no signs of diabetes. The technique, which the researchers hope to apply to other organs and other species, could theoretically be used to create chimeric animals capable of growing human organs seeded with a patient's own stem cells, reducing the risk of immune rejection. By injecting human blood stem cells into pig fetuses, for example, the researchers were able to make pigs that could generate human blood. If successful, the strategy could also help battle organ shortages and long ...
