Evoking themes of dark science fiction, xenotransplantation involves the transfer of an animal’s cells, tissues or organs into the human body in an attempt to cure a range of life threatening conditions, such as kidney and heart failure.
While to many the practice serves as a direct representation of scientific innovation and understanding, others highlight the flaws and ethical implications of such procedures, most notably in the genetic engineering of pigs and the welfare issues associated with their testing and living conditions.
While xenotransplantation remains largely in its infancy, lengthy organ waiting lists are a longstanding issue that impacts hundreds of thousands every year across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO), have reported that the current annual rate of organ transplantation accounts for less than 10% of the world's demand for them, while in the UK figures from July 2025 show that more people than ever are waiting for life saving organ treatments.
the number of pigs used in xenotransplantation is a drop in the ocean compared to the more than 1.5B that were slaughtered to provide food across the globe in 2016
Supporters of the practice argue that the number of pigs used in xenotransplantation is a drop in the ocean compared to the more than 1.5B that were slaughtered to provide food across the globe in 2016, as reported by the United Nations - an almost limitless supply once the effectiveness of the treatment can be entrenched.
While supporters of the practice point to benefits in the ability to reduce or eradicate the need for waiting lists, others focus their support on the development of opt-out and presumed consent systems to plug the shortfall in human organs for transplantation.
The introduction of Max and Keira’s Law in May 2020 - officially the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019 - made changes to England’s organ donation system to ensure that people were automatically registered for donation unless they specifically opted out, or were part of an excluded group. Therefore resulting in more human organs for transplantation and for xenotransplantation to be ‘relegated to the rubbish heap of vanity projects that do more harm than good’ in the eyes of PETA scientist Dr Julia Baines.
PETA have consistently opposed xenotransplantation on these grounds, arguing that animals ‘aren't tool-sheds to be raided but complex, intelligent beings’
Vocal opposition to the genetic engineering and welfare of pigs is also seen, with pigs being engineered with more human genes to reduce transplant rejection and immune responses, once transplanted. PETA have consistently opposed xenotransplantation on these grounds, arguing that animals ‘aren't tool-sheds to be raided but complex, intelligent beings’, that are bred, raised and euthanized on a large scale, while evidence of such transplants resulting in long term recovery being minimal.
While scientific understanding and ethical issues naturally go hand in hand, xenotransplantation represents a new dawn between what is possible and what is morally right, with only the future being able to tell us the correct answer.