Now see here, pig!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
Retinal disease is a major cause of blindness, affecting millions. But what if we could make… replacement eyes?!
Just look at Kimberly Edwards and team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison! They’re growing tiny “mini-eyes” in the lab using pig stem cells. Stem cells can become many types of tissues.
And? Their synthetic retinas sense light and send signals, just like the real thing! These “babes” mature faster and form better layers for synthetic eyes than other cell cultures.
Why pigs? Their eyes are similar to ours – perfect for testing medical treatments. These lab-grown retinas could someday help restore vision in humans.
Blindness cured? Maybe I will see you in a pig’s eye!
Reference: Edwards, K. L., Moore, B. M., Ganser, T.-S., Susaimanickam, P. J., Sovell, K., Martin, Y., Jager, L. D., Willes, A. M., Moyer, T. H., Bowar, L., Phillips, M. J., Stewart, R., Chu, L.-F., & Gamm, D. M. (2025). Robust generation of photoreceptor-dominant retinal organoids from porcine induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2025.102425