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Is it possible to build a Frankenstein Monster?
The short answer is maybe-- if you mean is it possible to build a human from dead tissue, the answer is no; but if it’s is it possible to build part of a human from tissue that has not yet died, the answer is yes! There are several organs that we can Transplant, and do so regularly now, all around the world; and in theory, we could likely transplant all organs-- given the organs were Viable. Organs begin to lose viability almost immediately after death, and most organs must be transplanted within a few hours or they will become unusable. Human tissue, on the other hand, retains viability for much longer and tissues can be Banked (kept very cold so that it remains viable) for up to five years. As of yet, there is no way to transplant a brain. The brain begins to die as soon as it is deprived of oxygen, and so far we haven’t been able to figure out how to prevent this. Another issue is that we don’t know how to regrow nerves in a spinal column-- so even if a foreign brain was put on a foreign spine, the two could not work together. As I mentioned before, there are many other types of transplants that are possible, such as liver transplants, heart transplants, and even cornea transplants in your eye! Each, of course, have their own sets of requirements, and there must be compatible characteristics between donor and recipient in order for any transplant to work. Some organs only require that the Blood Type of the donor and recipient be the same, though others require much more similarity and at least one type of transplant (an ovary transplant) has only been done successfully with twins. While, as I mentioned, there has never been a brain transplant, there was once an attempt to transplant a monkey’s head! The procedure was performed by a surgeon named Robert White in 1970. The monkey did survive for a short period, but could not move any parts of its new body since the spine nerves could not function-- again, because the nerves of the spinal column could not be regrown. It is highly doubtful that a true Frankenstein monster, with its mix and match of odd findings built together to create a living person, will ever be possible. Our knowledge of anatomy and biology has progressed tremendously since Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley in 1817, and we now know that many organs and tissues must be compatible with each other for transplants to work. It is also true that our knowledge and capacity to transplant are increasing every day; and the possibility of future Lab Grown Organs-- which would bypass the need for donors and could theoretically be grown to order for the recipient-- seems more and more likely each year. I mean, if they can make me-- a talking and thinking holographic dog-- the sky’s the limit! |
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GLOSSARY
Banked preserving organic tissue through cold temperature storage.
Blood Type classification of blood, based on the presence and absence of antibodies on red blood cells .
Lab Grown Organs organs grown in a laboratory specifically engineered for the needs of the intended transplant.
Transplant a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient.
Viable capable of working successfully.
Blood Type classification of blood, based on the presence and absence of antibodies on red blood cells .
Lab Grown Organs organs grown in a laboratory specifically engineered for the needs of the intended transplant.
Transplant a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and placed in the body of a recipient.
Viable capable of working successfully.
