Pig lungs in human transplants moves step closer

Pig lungs in human transplants moves step closer

www.telegraph.co.uk

Scientists in Melbourne, Australia, used a ventilator and pump to keep the animal lungs alive and "breathing" while human blood flowed in them.

Experts estimated the work could lead to the first animal-human transplants within five years.
Dr Glenn Westall, who helped conduct the experiment, said: “The blood went into the lungs without oxygen and came out with oxygen, which is the exact function of the lungs.

"It showed that these lungs were working perfectly well and doing as we were expecting them to do.

“This is a significant advance compared to experiments that have bee

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[edit on 2/4/2010 by semperfortis]

This has been an ongoing research subject for some 40yrs. Although arguably the idea of amalgamating man and beast has been around for centuries, in the Alchemic dream valled Chimera, here in the modern day while not a true Chimera the threading of human DNA into an already developing pig is something that wouold have been called Science Fiction at the beggining of this journey to find a growable human organ to replace those that we neglect or destroy through day to day life, Drinks anyone??

Above are some related links to a Law school thesis on human/non-human Biogenics and laws that would be needed to support safe and ethical research into the subject.
the other is Platos take on Chmerism.

While I believe there is need for the progression of the medical sciences it is important to remember that we must temper this progress with wisdom and care. Lest the mixing of bloods bring us more animalism than humanity. Pigs are a safe start, saving lives a worthy cause. However the implications of this research especially from a military point of view and weaponization of said genetic mixing is only a short jump away.

Although as one Senator helped me see you can laugh at it too. heres a news link for forethinking senators and wizards ahahaha
Next is an example of super soldier rumors and what is better hardware or splicing.

www.telegraph.co.uk
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[edit on 28/01/10 by TacticalVeritas]

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[edit on 2/4/2010 by semperfortis]

In some cases this may be useful for treatment without transplanting

In cases where someone lungs are damaged but would heal over time using pigs lungs outside the body to supplement the damaged lungs while there lungs healed would save lives.

reply to post by ANNED


No more truer words have been spoken. However the Lungs are just the start, I recall about 5yrs ago in popsci (though for all the digging I couldnt find the article) that scientists were seeking to harvest not just lungs but DNA infused organs from every part of the pig, but only by uping the amount of human DNA in the pigs, sparking, though far fetched, arguments that five fingered pigs may hold a revolt one day, and lets not forget the religious right screaming about Alchemy is the Debils work.