Xenotransplantation - Documentaries

Organ Farm (Part 1): A World Apart
Credits London Weekend Television, 2001, 60 min
This is the first of a 3-part series on the controversial issue of xenotransplantation. Two major problems are the danger of transferring animal viruses to humans and the response of the human immune system to the foreign organ. The documentary offers a detailed picture of how a pig farm dedicated to producing transplant organs would be managed. With the donor organ shortage forcing attention once more on the possibility of using animals, one biotechnology company is experimenting with pigs, inbred to eliminate pig viruses. Depending on the success of animal cross-species transplant experiments, xenotranplant experiments could be resumed.
Available from www.wellcome.ac.uk

Organ Farm (Part 2): A Risky Business
Credits London Weekend Television, 2001, 60 min
While there are as yet no further xenotransplant organ experiments, transplants of pig cells to the human brain have been carried out in cases of stroke damage and Parkinson's disease. Patients have shown improvement after this treatment. Prof. Robin Weiss (University College, London) explains, however, that the danger of virus transfer remains. Further explorations in cell transplant aim to treat severe neurological dysfunction such as damage to the spine. The potential benefits of cell xenotransplant are great, but progress must be determined by continual risk assessment.
Available from www.wellcome.ac.uk

Organ Farm (Part 3): Man Made Pigs
London Weekend Television, 2001, 60 min
'Man Made Pigs' looks at the secret science and controversial animal experiments being carried out in order to develop genetically humanised pig organs for transplantation into people. In a secret research farm in America, new ways to defeat hyper-acute rejection are being tried out. Scientists are experimenting with knocking out parts of the pig DNA that hamper cross-species transplants. There is the potential to make pig organs invisible to the body's rejection system. Furthermore, Organ Farm has the world exclusive pictures of two cloned transgenic piglets carrying a human gene and born in America. The science is now in place to create a living production line of transplant organs to use as spare parts for humans. The 'holy grail' of cross-species transplantation has now been achieved.
Available from www.wellcome.ac.uk

Superhuman: Spare Parts
BBC TV (UK), 2000, 50 min
In this programme Prof. Robert Winston discusses cochlear implant, pioneering work with electronic chips to overcome blindness, a bionic hand and a hand transplant, heart transplant, pig cell implant to the brain to treat Parkinson's disease, and the question of farming animals for organ transplants to humans. Cochlear implant surgery is shown, with discussion of the problems the patient will experience in becoming accustomed to sound. A bionic arm is shown, the patient attaches himself to it and is seen working out the problems of controlling it. The man who received the world's first hand transplant (in France in 1998) discusses the problems he and other people experienced in coming to terms with it.