News On Japan

Japan's First Specially Engineered Pig for Human Organ Transplant Born

TOKYO, Feb 13 (News On Japan) - A group including a venture company originating from Meiji University has succeeded in producing a special breed of pigs, developed in the United States for the purpose of organ transplantation in humans, using cloning technology.

This marks the first birth of piglets in Japan using this technique. The venture company, PorMedTech, which focuses on pig cloning technology and related research, announced the development. The pigs in question are genetically engineered miniature pigs by an American biotech firm, designed to reduce the likelihood of rejection when their organs are transplanted into humans. The group has successfully cloned these pigs from imported cells, and on the 11th, three piglets were born.

According to the group, this is the first time that pigs intended for human transplantation have been born in Japan. Research into pig-to-human organ transplantation has been gaining international attention in recent years as a means to secure a supply of organs for transplants. The group plans to supply these pigs to research institutions and aims to start research on transplanting their organs into monkeys within the year.

Hiroshi Nagashima, a professor at Meiji University and CEO of the venture company, said, "I am relieved that the piglets were born safely, but this is just the beginning. With this development, I expect discussions on clinical applications to progress in Japan. We want to advance our research with a focus on safety and also deepen the discussion on ethical issues."

Source: NHK

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The 33rd Summer Olympics in Paris officially commenced with an opening ceremony held on the Seine River in the city center on the 26th (27th Japan time).

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has initiated the creation of guidelines for taking home leftovers as part of its efforts to reduce food waste. Restaurants are hopeful for clear directions on preventing food poisoning.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare have announced the average life expectancy for Japanese people last year, with women having an average life expectancy of 87.14 years, and men 81.09 years, both about half a month higher than the previous year.

Theft of air conditioner outdoor units has surged as Japan's heatwave continues, leaving some businesses unable to run critical cooling systems.

As power harassment allegations against the governor of Hyogo Prefecture continue to swirl, it has been revealed that another prefectural employee has passed away, with the prefecture delaying a formal announcement of the death by 3 months.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

A dinosaur fossil found in a stratum dating back approximately 110 million years (Early Cretaceous) in Tamba-Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture, has been identified as a new genus and species of the small carnivorous dinosaur family Troodontidae, which is closely related to birds.

Japan's space business, predicted to grow into a 200 trillion yen industry, is on the cusp of innovation as global competition intensifies.

Japanese scientists have attached living skin to robot faces to make them “smile”. The University of Tokyo published its findings in late June 2024, along with a video of the material being stretched into an unsettling grin. (South China Morning Post)

In Kiyosato, Hokkaido, cherry salmon are making their way back from the Sea of Okhotsk to rivers to spawn as the breeding season approaches. These fish are showcasing their powerful jumps, attempting to scale a waterfall approximately 2.5 meters high.

A new variant, KP.3, different from those before, has emerged, and some say we are now in the 11th wave. The new variant is highly contagious, with symptoms primarily including throat pain and fever.

An eruption of Sakurajima on July 14th that sent plumes of smoke as high as 4,500 meters has been captured on camera.

With rising sea temperatures, the habitats of marine life are changing, and some of these changes involve dangerous creatures that require caution. One such creature is the venomous Blue-Ringed Octopus, which has poison hundreds of times more potent than cyanide.

The Japanese government has requested all water utility companies to report the results of water quality tests by the end of September regarding the organic fluorine compound "PFAS." But what exactly is PFAS, and is Japan's tap water safe? Based on interviews with Koji Harada, an associate professor at Kyoto University, we delve into the topic.