Abstract
Blastocyst complementation combined with gene editing is an emerging approach in the
field of regenerative medicine that could potentially solve the worldwide problem of organ
shortages for transplantation. In theory, blastocyst complementation can generate fully
functional human organs or tissues, grown within genetically engineered livestock animals.
Targeted deletion of a specific gene(s) using gene editing to cause deficiencies in organ
development can open a niche for human stem cells to occupy, thus generating human
tissues. Within this review, we will focus on the pancreas, liver, heart, kidney, lung,
and skeletal muscle, as well as cells of the immune and nervous systems. Within each of
these organ systems, we identify and discuss (i) the common causes of organ failure; (ii)
the current state of regenerative therapies; and (iii) the candidate genes to knockout and
enable specific exogenous organ development via the use of blastocyst complementation. We
also highlight some of the current barriers limiting the success of blastocyst
complementation.
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