"Our dream is that one day we will be able to bridge that gap with animal organs. "

Thousands of people might benefit from animal organs.

A specimen can be anything from a full human body to a small piece of an animal organ, and they are known as 'plastinates'.

If we had an unlimited supply of animal organs, patients could receive transplants while still in reasonable health.

The longest anyone has lived with an animal organ - a person who received a chimpanzee kidney - is nine months.

The first attempts to use animal organs in people date from 1905.

Antlers take three to five months to fully develop, making them one of the fastest growing animal organs.

Another issue involves the transplanting of animal organs and cells into human beings.

But scientists say that if the research succeeds an unlimited supply of animal organs may be developed.

The use of animal organs and tissues has been a part of medicine for decades.