There have been several attempts over the last century to transplant a head to a different body. In 1959, China said they were able to transplant a dog's head, and in 1970 a monkey's head was successfully attached to another body. The problem was always reattaching the spine; the monkeys and dogs did not live long after their operations. But in July 2013, an Italian scientist named Sergio Canavero said in a recently published paper that a human head transplant is now possible. "The greatest technical hurdle to such an endeavor is of course the reconnection of the donor's and recipient's spinal cords," Dr. Canavero was quoted as saying. "It is my contention that the technology only now exists for such linkage.” He says that a “clean cut” spinal cord is the key to attachment and subsequent re-attachment. His findings have been met with both praise and skepticism, and so far no one has attempted the procedure. Any volunteers?
Friday, September 6, 2013
This Just Doesn't Seem Like A Good Idea
There have been several attempts over the last century to transplant a head to a different body. In 1959, China said they were able to transplant a dog's head, and in 1970 a monkey's head was successfully attached to another body. The problem was always reattaching the spine; the monkeys and dogs did not live long after their operations. But in July 2013, an Italian scientist named Sergio Canavero said in a recently published paper that a human head transplant is now possible. "The greatest technical hurdle to such an endeavor is of course the reconnection of the donor's and recipient's spinal cords," Dr. Canavero was quoted as saying. "It is my contention that the technology only now exists for such linkage.” He says that a “clean cut” spinal cord is the key to attachment and subsequent re-attachment. His findings have been met with both praise and skepticism, and so far no one has attempted the procedure. Any volunteers?
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2 comments:
Maybe he can find a volunteer among all those people who want to go on that doomed one-way mission to Mars. What the hell would they care?
That is a great Adventure until about a week in when I would want to WOOSH everyone out the airlock except me and the kitty.
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