  Cloned Pigs Provide Organs for Humans? -3/17/00-KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The world's first cloned piglets snorted, squealed and squirmed inside a Blacksburg office building Tuesday afternoon, oblivious to their sudden celebrity status.
But, if scientists' hopes become reality, the five little pigs will be remembered as the first in a long line of genetically modified pigs whose organs and cells could be transplanted safely into humans.
PPL Therapeutics Inc. on Tuesday announced the successful cloning of the piglets, who were born March 5 at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg. PPL officials put the identical piglets -- named Millie, Christa, Alexis, Carrel and Dotcom -- on display during a news conference in the company's office at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.
Scientists believe a genetic modification will make the piglets' organs and cells safe for transplantation in humans. PPL officials said organs harvested from pigs offer the only short-term solution to a worldwide shortage in human organs.
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