[todd3834]

I always find it interesting how humans and pigs seem more related than monkeys when it comes to our skin and other organs. I would expect a monkey liver would be a more obvious replacement.

[throwup238]

They’re not more related, they’re just roughly the same size as human organs which makes them physically convenient. Their distance to humans is actually a desired trait because it decreases the probability of a zoonotic infection crossing into humans. Monkeys are susceptible to many more diseases that effect humans too, especially when invasively transplanted.

Using monkeys for transplantation is also completely impractical because they can’t be bred as fast as pigs which have shorter gestation periods and larger litters. Since there is already a huge industry revolving around pigs, its much simpler to breed them specifically for xenotransplantion

[PaulHoule]

Primates are terrible to handle too. Try to stick them with a needle and they might grab it and stick you. I think the only primate which is (possibly) more agreeable than humans is the gorilla.

[LiquidPolymer]

Believe it or not the higher primates can be trained to accept injections voluntarily. I've seen this in person with chimpanzees, orangutans, guenons, and gibbons. The general procedure involves a plastic sleeve attached to a barrier the primate sticks its arm into. The sleeve has a large port for a veterinary technician to prep the injection site. A handle at the end allows the animal to grasp a bar to keep the arm stationary. It can withdraw the arm at anytime. High value treats are offered. The veterinary technician announced loudly "sticking!" and in goes the needle. The announcement is for the animal's awareness to expect the pinch of pain from the needle. Once complete a "jackpot" of extremely high value treats are offered and accepted.

[andyjohnson0]

Interesting. How is an untrained primate helped to get past the initial unexpected pain before the treat is made available?

[PaulHoule]

It is one of those things like an electric shock for which the reaction to the pain is much worse than the tissue damage. I was quite surprised to see how terrified a Percheron draft horse (who hated fences and would go over or through them if it could) was of the electric fence that felt like a tiny ‘pop” to me. When I touched it while standing in a puddle with rubber boots that had a hole in them I understood a little better…

[acchow]

Sounds like the horse really did feel significant pain but you didn't realize it at first because you had protection from shoes?

[PaulHoule]

Pigs have a diet similar to us so their digestive system and related metabolic systems are pretty similar.

That's one reason why their feces are so offensive compared to real herbivores like horses or cows or carnivores like cats and dogs.

[strangattractor]

There is a reason Pacific islanders once used the term "Long Pig" for human flesh:)

[31carmichael]

yum

[andrewla]

I think the fact is that the similarity is "close enough", and for reasons unrelated to medical science, there are A LOT of pigs.

[taneq]

Hah, you thought we were Mon'keigh but we are actually Ork.