Production of transgenic and knockout pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Xenotransplantation is one alternative to transplantation of human organs which has been investigated. It is generally accepted that the pig represents the most logical choice of animals to serve as organ donors for xenotransplantation. Moreover, the implementation of cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and transgenic techniques have resulted in the production of numerous transgenic pigs than can be used for xenotransplantation purposes as well as models for human diseases.