In the United States, over 100,000 individuals are currently on waiting lists for organ transplants. Tragically, 17 people die each day while waiting. Scientists are exploring innovative solutions to this crisis, including the development of “bodyoids”—living human bodies incapable of thought or feeling pain. These bodyoids could potentially serve as a new source of organs for transplantation. Additionally, bodyoids might accelerate medical research by providing a more human-relevant model than traditional animal testing, where the majority of promising treatments fail to translate from mice to humans. Other approaches to the organ shortage include gene-edited animal organs. For instance, a few individuals have received gene-edited pig organs, with mixed results. David Bennett Sr. and Richard Slayman, who received a pig heart and kidney respectively, passed away within two months of their surgeries in 2022 and early 2024. However, Towana Looney, who received a pig kidney in late November of last year, has reported positive outcomes, returning home in February with renewed energy and appetite. Meanwhile, companies like Renewal Bio are working on growing synthetic human embryos for organ replacement, though the development potential of these structures remains uncertain.
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