Scientists perform the first pig-to-human lung transplant

The procedure could one day help address worldwide organ shortages

An image of surgeons performing surgery

A genetically modified a pig lung transplanted into a human remained viable for nine days after the surgery, researchers report.

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Scientists have, for the first time, transplanted a genetically engineered pig lung into a human.

The lung tissue remained alive for nine days after the transplant despite early signs of inflammation, researchers report August 25 in Nature Medicine.