The Major Obstacle to the Use of Xenotransplants is _____

Question

The major obstacle to the use of xenotransplants is _____.
A) the lack of human donors
B) finding nonhumans with similar-sized organs
C) resistance from opponents of genetically modified animals
D) organ rejection by recipients
E) the possibility of viral transfer from nonhuman primates to human patients

Accepted Answer

The major obstacle to the use of xenotransplants is organ rejection by recipients. The immune system of the recipient recognizes the transplanted organ as foreign and attacks it, leading to rejection. This is a major challenge that researchers are still trying to overcome in xenotransplantation. While there are other challenges, such as the possibility of viral transfer and ethical concerns, organ rejection remains the major obstacle.