A domestic team of researchers has succeeded in developing an artificial liver with a swine liver.
 
The Rural Development Administration said Tuesday that a joint team of researchers from Seoul National University and Kangwon National University developed the artificial organ that can be transplanted to humans across species barriers.
 
Cross-species transplantation refers to the transfer of animal cells, tissues and organs to humans for medical purposes.
 
The research team explained that it developed a biotechnology to use the liver from a swine to produce an artificial one that has a similar structure and functions to that of a human liver.  
 
The scientists expected that along with the induced pluripotent stem cell technology, the latest feat will facilitate the development and practical application of an artificial liver tailored to the needs of individual patients.