HealthJuly 10, 2026

xenotransplantation

/ˌziːnoʊˌtrænsplænˈteɪʃən/

Definition

The medical procedure of transplanting cells, tissues, or organs from a donor of one species into a recipient of another species, typically from animals to humans.

Etymology

The word combines the Greek 'xenos' (stranger or guest) with the Latin 'transplantare' (to move from one place to another). It emerged in the 20th century to describe cross-species grafting.

In the news

Although the term is not used in the article's body text, it appears in a 'Suggested Reading' headline as a broader topic regarding how animal organs could potentially transform medicine.

Older adults face greater risk of mental health hospitalizations during extreme heatwaves

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