If this case study I came across today doesn't blow your mind... Then I don't know what will!
Let's first start with a picture
Yes, this is exactly what you are thinking it is. A human arm with real fish skin. And no, it isn't some weird ass fetish cosplay.
The tldr of the story is that this poor fella ended up in a burn treatment center with severe burns all over his body after a gunpowder explosion.
Due to the severity, the specialists there decided to go for an experimental xenograft treatment. Xenowhat?
A tissue graft taken from a species different from that of the recipient.source
And the xenograft they decided to go for was tilapia skin. Apparently, it's pretty close to human skin and the thought was the patient's cells could use it as a bridge to rebuild the damage!
Tilapia skin has non-infectious microbiota, high amounts of type I collagen, and similar morphological structure to human skin, so it has been suggested as a potential xenograft for the management of burn wounds
Disgusting as it may sound it, it actually fucking worked!
Tilapia skin was applied to the lesions, leading to complete reepithelialization within 12 and 17 days of treatment, respectively. No dressing changes were needed and no side effects were observed.
This was the result after 17 days
Looks to me like some melanin is missing. Nothing a good sun bath can't fix 😂
I have omitted the really gross photos and stuff that are included in the paper. Like the clearing of the necrotic tissue, the actual burns and the gradual transformation of skin fish to human skin.
Here's a link to the paper if you want to see the more gross stuff and / or read more about this really interesting case
If only I could get a donkey xenograft for my penis. That would be pretty neat 🐴🍌 😎