Xeno: The Promise of Transplanting Animal Organs Into Humans

By David K.C. Cooper and Robert Lanza

Book Overview

The plight of a patient waiting months, sometimes years, for an organ transplant is one of the most heart-wrenching predicaments confronting medicine today. But the current critical shortage of human donor organs has had one positive consequence: it has stimulated promising new research into the field of xenotransplantation--the transplantation of organs from one animal species to another.
In Xeno: The Promise of Transplanting Animal Organs Into Humans, David Cooper and Robert Lanza explore what may become one of the greatest medical advances of the 21st century. As scientists genetically engineer animal organs to evade the problems of rejection, we can expect a tremendous increase in xenotransplantation. This book recounts the several historical attempts to transplant animal organs into humans, and draws attention to the immense potential and promise of this form of therapy. The problems which remain, and recent breakthroughs in overcoming rejection and in "humanizing" pig organs for transplantation, are fully discussed. The authors also provide a fascinating consideration of the social and ethical questions posed by such procedures. Which patients should be the first to be offered this new form of therapy? Will transplanted animal organs transfer infectious viruses to the human recipient, and will they then be passed on to the community at large? Can society afford the major increase in healthcare expenditure that will result from our ability to provide a limitless number of donor organs?
With profound implications for human health and longevity in the next millennium, Xeno is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of medicine.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195128338
• ISBN13: 9780195128338
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Easily lives up to recent reviews

I just finished reading XENO - easily lives up to the excellent reviews I read in Nature and the New Scientist.

This book easily lives up to recent reviews

I just finished reading XENO - it easily lives up to the reviews I read in "Nature" and "The New Scientist." I wish all medical books were this thoughtful (and easy to read).

Overview of xenotransplantation

This book gives the reader a comprehensive and understandable overview of the exciting field of xenotransplantation. The authors discuss the pro's and contra's of xenotransplantation in great detail and manage to keep the reader fascinated. A must-read for those interested in medical science and progress!

Xenotransplantation, medical challenge of the new century

Written by two world experts in the field, this book gives an excellent introduction and overview of one of the most exciting medical challenges of this new century. The authors explain in details and also with great clarity the historical and scientific aspects or organ transplantation. The reader understands the reasons why the medical community is searching for new methods to solve the problem of organ shortage. The medical challenge becomes a fascinating adventure.