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Organ transplants

The immune system of a transplant patient will try and reject the donated organ. The patient must remain on immunosuppressive drugs for life to stop this happening. However, there is a shortage of human organs for transplant operations, making it difficult to find close matches. Scientists are working on growing patients' own tissue in the laboratory for transplants that won't be rejected. One controversial solution may be to use genetically modified pigs as donors.

A man on dialysis.
A man on dialysis.
Wellcome Photo Library

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