The use of pigs for human transplants stems from a historical partnership between the Mayo Clinic and Hormel Foods to breed smaller 'minipigs' for lab research. This agricultural project, combined with pigs' anatomical similarities and lower disease-transmission risk compared to primates, established them as the primary source for replacement organs.

Nobel Prize-winning research identified genes (Yamanaka factors) that revert specialized adult cells back into their embryonic, stem-cell state. This discovery proves cellular differentiation and aging are not irreversible, opening the door for regenerative therapies by "rebooting" cells to an earlier state.

The core scientific challenge in cryopreservation isn't achieving low temperatures, but avoiding the formation of ice. When water freezes, it expands and shatters cells. The goal is vitrification: cooling tissue so rapidly that it turns into a stable, glass-like state without forming destructive ice crystals.

Unlike external machines, implanting parts internally triggers the body's powerful defenses. The immune system attacks foreign objects, and blood forms clots around non-native surfaces. These two biological responses are the biggest design hurdles for internal replacement parts, problems that external devices like dialysis machines don't face.

General Catalyst's CEO highlights a core flaw in healthcare: insurance providers don't reimburse for longevity or preventative care because customers frequently switch plans, preventing insurers from capturing long-term ROI. The first company to solve this misalignment and make longevity "financeable" will unlock a massive market.

While AI holds long-term promise for molecule discovery, its most significant near-term impact in biotech is operational. The key benefits today are faster clinical trial recruitment and more efficient regulatory submissions. The revolutionary science of AI-driven drug design is still in its earliest stages.

While AI's impact on business is significant, the ultimate catalyst for market euphoria will be its application in healthcare. When AI-driven drug discovery makes 'living forever' a tangible possibility, it will unlock an unprecedented level of investor optimism.

Beyond tackling fatal diseases to increase lifespan, a new wave of biotech innovation focuses on "health span"—the period of life lived in high quality. This includes developing treatments for conditions often dismissed as aging, such as frailty, vision loss, and hearing decline, aiming to improve wellbeing in later decades.

Modern ethical boards make certain human studies, like extended fasting, nearly impossible to conduct. This creates an opportunity to revisit older, pre-regulatory research from places like the Soviet Union. While the proposed mechanisms may be outdated, the raw data could unlock valuable modern therapeutic approaches.