The dawn of the Frankenstein(s)?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the feasibility and implications of head transplants, particularly in light of recent reports of successful spinal cord repairs in rats by Sergio Canavero's team. Participants explore the complexities involved in such a procedure, the ethical considerations, and the scientific validity of the claims made regarding head transplants.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the plausibility of head transplants, citing the complexity of matching and recovering various bodily functions beyond spinal cord connections.
  • One participant notes that the paper referenced discusses spinal cord repair rather than head transplants, emphasizing the distinction between the two topics.
  • There is a humorous exchange regarding the terminology of "head transplant" versus "body transplant," with participants questioning the perspective of the patient involved.
  • Concerns are raised about the ethical implications and public perception of head transplants, with some suggesting that societal acceptance may be a barrier to the procedure.
  • Participants acknowledge the controversial nature of Canavero's plans and the criticism he has received from the scientific community.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the feasibility of head transplants, with multiple competing views remaining regarding the scientific, ethical, and practical aspects of the procedure.

Contextual Notes

Limitations in the discussion include the lack of detailed scientific analysis of the proposed methods for head transplants and the dependence on the definitions of terms like "patient" in the context of such a procedure.

Beelzebub
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Head transplant team reports success in rats
Sergio Canavero and his team, who plan to carry out the first head transplant later this year, say they have successfully repaired severed spinal cords in rats, using the proposed technique.

Italian neurosurgeon Canavero has drawn widespread criticism since announcing plans to perform the first human head transplant. The controversial procedure is due to take place in December. :confused:

https://www.univadis.co.uk/viewarti...eng-gb_20170113&utm_content=1472515&utm_term=
 
Biology news on Phys.org
and what do you want to ask?
 
Well about the plausability of it becoming real.
 
A head transplant would be much more complex than merely recovering from a spinal cord transection.
Besides recovering the connections going up and down the spinal cord, there would also be matching up and recovering function of the peripheral nerves, the vasculature, and many structural features like muscle, tendons, ligaments, esophagus, etc.
These would all have to work for a reasonably independent existence.
 
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Beelzebub said:
Head transplant team reports success in rats
Sergio Canavero and his team, who plan to carry out the first head transplant later this year, say they have successfully repaired severed spinal cords in rats, using the proposed technique.

Italian neurosurgeon Canavero has drawn widespread criticism since announcing plans to perform the first human head transplant. The controversial procedure is due to take place in December. :confused:

https://www.univadis.co.uk/viewarticle/head-transplant-team-reports-success-in-rats-527564?u=g7Nnk16ewgu1y4qX2NVC+6BGJQ08OW4R4npnBJfJd2jYXQqBLO/p6zFISyuft9z8&utm_source=adhoc email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=adhoc_bestofweek_email_generalmedicine_eng-gb_20170113&utm_content=1472515&utm_term=
Beelzebub said:
Here is the paper published in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cns.12713/full
The paper is about experimenting with repairing spinal cord transection, not about head transplants.
Conclusions

We show for the first time in an adequately powered study that the paralysis attendant to a complete transection of the spinal cord can be reversed. This opens the path to a severance-reapposition cure of spinal paralysis, in which the injured segment is excised and the two stumps approximated after vertebrectomy/diskectomies.
As @BillTre says, there is a lot more involved in any attempts at a head transplant.

Thread closed temporarily for Moderation...
 
Thread re-opened.
 
Beelzebub said:
Well about the plausability of it becoming real.

It won't (it have problem just like the clone) (people won't like it)
 
This topic is very near the edge of acceptable for PF - I'm not competent to say it is completely impossible. The Frankenstein hyperbole in the thread title is not really acceptable, but let's let it pass for a while. If the thread goes off the deep end it gets deleted.
 
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  • #10
From the news link you posted:
Italian neurosurgeon Canavero has drawn widespread criticism since announcing plans to perform the first human head transplant. The controversial procedure is due to take place in December.
Science is not about headlines.
 
  • #11
jim mcnamara said:
Science is not about headlines.
No pun intended right?

From the point of view of the patient wouldn't this be a body transplant?

BoB
 
  • #12
I did not see that... Oops.
 
  • #13
Me neither, LOL.
 
  • #14
rbelli1 said:
From the point of view of the patient wouldn't this be a body transplant?

Depends on which patient.
However, a patient without a head probably does not have much of a viewpoint, I guess.
 
  • #15
BillTre said:
However, a patient without a head probably does not have much of a viewpoint, I guess.

I would hope by that time the moniker "patient" no longer really applies to the body donor.

BoB