BBC World Service – Newshour, Man receives first kidney transplant from genetically-modified pig

A 62-year-old man in Boston in the United States has received a kidney from a genetically-engineered pig in the first transplant of its kind. Surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital say if such procedures are carried out on a large scale, dialysis could become obsolete. Richard Slayman – whose previously transplanted human kidney began to fail last year – is recovering well after the four-hour surgery last week. His surgeons say they stand on the brink of a “monumental breakthrough”.

Also in the programme: we get an update from Haiti as we ask how the gangs are supplying themselves with sophisticated weapons; and celebrating World Poetry Day, we hear from Mary Jean Chan whose poetry collection “Bright Fear” has been nominated for the prestigious Dylan Thomas Prize.

(Photo Credit: Massachusetts General Hospital)

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