The usefulness of mice as animal models in hepatic research has taken a great leap forward. One of the most commonly cited problems with animal models is that they are different and respond differently to experiments/treatments as compared to humans. However a team at the Salk institute in California has generated a mouse with a human liver.
The mouse was created by knocking out genes responsible for making substances needed to keep alive a normal liver in a mouse, then artificially giving these substances. These substances were withdrawn whilst simultaneously injecting human liver cells. The mouse cells die and are replaced by human ones.
The new liver seems to act just like a human liver, creating human albumin, and even being susceptible to hepatitis which the scientists were then able to cure. It is hoped this new model could eventually be used to treat among other diseases; malaria, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
More info:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/...man-liver.html
The Journal of Clinical Investigation, DOI: 10.1172/JCI40094
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