I think that xenotransplantation is acceptable in most religions. (xenotransplantation is the transfer of living organs, tissues, or cells from one species to another to replace the ever increasing organ shortages.) Both Islam and Judaism forbid the eating of pork, but accept xenotransplantation on the basis that humans have a higher place in the world and therefore have the right to use animals for their welfare, as long as the animals are treated with respect.

However the question that poses itself here is if the opposite holds true? Is it possible that Islam forbids eating pork because pigs have proven to be one of the best sources to supply organs to humans?

Maybe we will find a plausible reason soon… and the reason will be more convincing than the old debates about the pig eating its shit, or because it is polygamous!

By the way I know about genetic engineering as much as I know about Chinese language… so I am counting on O.’s contribution here.
Omar
Most organ transplants nowadays are considered to be relatively safe and routine procedures. However, the global demand for organs for patients waiting for transplantation is not being met. Recently, scientists and researchers are placing great hopes on being able to use cross-species transplants between humans and animals to help alleviate part of the shortage. This process is called xenotransplantaion.

Most animal organs have been extensively researched to find the most suitable replacement to that of humans. Of all the different animals, baboons and pigs are the favored xenotransplant donors. Baboons and chimpanzees are genetically close to humans. However, because of their developed social structure, human-like behaviors, and the large number of viruses they host; many ethical and medical issues were raised concerning their use; as a result, pigs became the most likely candidates for the job; mainly because of certain characters they hold, such as: pigs have organ sizes that are very similar to those of humans, and their genes can be easily inserted in human DNA.

Risks
1- Many public health concerns regarding the clinical trials of xenotransplantation have been raised. The major growing fear in transplanting animal organs, cells and tissues into humans is that such transplants might expose humans to the many different viruses primates and other animal harbor
2- Hyper acute Rejection usually caused by the natural antibodies

3- Acute vascular rejection

4- Ethical issues

Madas
This whole debate makes me think of the novel Never Let Me Go by Japanese/British author Kazuo Ishiguro, who also wrote the Remains of the day…The book is disturbing in the sense that when I finished the last word, I realized that I had been sobbing for a while… However it is also absolutely touching. Ishiguro always allows his characters to reveal their human weaknesses via veiled but suggestive language and situations. Usually the feelings feel very real and plausible.

Basically while playing with the beautiful internet I stumbled upon a site called Fertility Friend … Which is designed to help women have a better understanding of their bodies… since unfortunately we don’t …. Especially that our teacher in school had enough wisdom to skip the sex education chapter in biology or science as it was called then…because it was dedicated to “ ilet il adab” according to her. I am willing to bet that the same happened in many schools in Amman and to many many generations! And if you were Lucky enough to be in the Adabi (Literature branch) in high school, then you are doomed…since only the ilmi (science branch) had to study this stuff in our beloved Tawjihi year and we spent half the time giggling anyway so we did not get all the details.

Now to go directly to the point, it is a personalized database, where each of you can store information about her body from month to month, where it indicates clearly all the signs that our bodies scream to tell us when to expect our periods or when we are ovulating to help getting pregnant or to make sure not to get pregnant, it is really very simple really.

It is a bit confusing at the beginning, but honestly the amount of information at the website is amazing… and the more I read the more fascinated I am with human beings as creatures… how our bodies are talking to us to tell us how to live better only if we listen and understand the signs and clues…. And the only thing I can say is Sub7an Allah.

I was inspired by my father to write this entry… he is helping me figure out what to do with my life and suggested studying sociology ( he knows how fascinated i am by people) and sex education directed by islam ( as my dad is quite religious) to help people have better lives and better understanding of one another.