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TUCSON - The pig is an under-estimated animal better known for its slovenly habits and portly physique than for its medical contributions.

A team of researchers at the University of Georgia, led by Dr. Franklin West and Dr. Steve Stice, have discovered a way to create pig stem cells.

"Pigs have tremendous research potential. And a lot of different diseases are being studied through pigs," said Dr. Stice.

A pig's physiology, their biochemistry and their cell biology is similar to a human's. "It's best to study something like heart disease in an animal that has developed heart disease. And that happens in pigs," Dr. Stice explained.

Stem cells are genetic building blocks. Tell them to become a kidney, or an eyebrow, or an ankle bone and they do.

By experimenting with stem cells in pigs, researchers say they can learn how to make them work in humans. According to Dr. Stice, "Eventually some day we may be able to transplant whole organs from pigs into humans."

These researchers expect to change the genetics of pig stem cells and eventually human stem cells and eliminate organ and tissue rejection. Dr. Stice said, "We can then make a cell that hopefully won't be rejected by the human immune system and therefore would last a long period of time."

And it is likely that young people today, suffering from Type One Diabetes, will benefit from this research well within their lifetime.