Developing artificial organs

Predictions for the availability of artificial organs are: pancreas, 1998; blood 1998; ears, 2000; heart, 2005; lungs, 2015; kidneys, 2015; brain cells, 2017; liver, 2020; brain implants, 2025; peripheral nerves, 2025; brain add-ons, 2033.

In 2002 it was reported that two independent teams of scientists, one from the USA and another from the UK, had created pigs with organs suitable for human transplants. Both of the cloned porcine litters were genetically engineered to switch off genes that would cause the human body to reject them and to be of a similar size to the equivalent human organ.

One version of the artificial heart is the size of a grapefruit, and as such will only fit roughly 50% of adult males, and just 18% of women. A new heart suitable for all adults is due for testing in 2004.