Human head transplant surgery may be possible - Polidicks

[quote]An Italian neuroscientist believes he’s figured out how to do a full human head transplant. Or body transplant, depending on your perspective. In a recent paper, Dr. Sergio Canavero of the University of Turin explains how the procedure would work, describing how a "clean cut" with an "ultra-sharp blade" could leave the two severed spinal cords in the condition to be re-attached. "It is my contention that the technology only now exists for such linkage," writes the researcher.[/quote] [url]http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/2/4485586/sergio-canavero-head-transplant-surgery-finally-possible[/url] Now I can be ripped without working out!

I can finally be a girl.

This should mean full brain transplants are possible as well, yes?

Quickly! Steven Hawking needs a host body!

I don't think this is going to be attempted any time soon.

I remember reading about a lot of scientific work and experimentation done with this sort of thing, but it was more along the lines of reattaching a severed human head. Most the successful experiments happened about half a block down the road from where i went to highschool. :D

God dammit I had a nightmare about this shit last night and now it has come back to get me in reality.

that would be so fucking weird

[QUOTE=pentium;41275818]Quickly! Steven Hawking needs a host body![/QUOTE] Uhh, I'm pretty certain his issue is to do with his spine, which is the thing that's not replaced, right?

Imagine if it went wrong. Two people paralyzed, possibly dead. Eurgh.

Finally [img]http://jasonrosenbaum.typepad.com/.a/6a01053629ad41970c0120a775e74b970b-320pi[/img]

-snip-

[img]http://johnnyjung04.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz1.jpg[/img] We're getting closer to that reality

One step closer to becoming a brain and spinal cord in the body of a robot. Soon, I can have my revengeance.

WAIT WTF WE JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO BE IMMORTAL

[QUOTE=Samiam22;41275863]Imagine if it went wrong. Two people paralyzed, possibly dead. Eurgh.[/QUOTE] Chances are it goes wrong. A lot of times. Trial and error or years of development are what makes shit safe. This has just been "solved", I wouldn't bet my money on this working just yet.

A very impractical form of immortality, but a form of immortality regardless

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;41275842]Uhh, I'm pretty certain his issue is to do with his spine, which is the thing that's not replaced, right?[/QUOTE] Well if you transplant his head onto a new body, a good portion of the spine will be replaced. It depends on where in the spine needs replaced and where the cut is made. If it's at the base of the skull, then it won't help at all if they don't cut there. If it's lower, below the cervical vertibrae, it should do alright.

[QUOTE=Dr. Evilcop;41275812]This should mean full brain transplants are possible as well, yes?[/QUOTE] Not really, they main reason this is possible is because they now know how to connect the host spinal cord to the head that is getting transplanted. Moving just a brain would be A LOT more complicated.

[QUOTE=Lambadvanced;41275911]A very impractical form of immortality, but a form of immortality regardless[/QUOTE] your brain would still deteriorate.

I believe this was already done for dogs a few decades ago

[QUOTE=Lambadvanced;41275903]WAIT WTF WE JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO BE IMMORTAL[/QUOTE] The condition of your brain will still degrade over time, you could change to younger bodies but you would still die. Could you imagine the recovery from switching heads? It hurts like hell recovering from having a finger reattached.

Hello, science? Yes. I would like a body of a buff black male. Okay. Great.

[QUOTE=Cyanlime;41275927]your brain would still deteriorate.[/QUOTE] Probably even faster, being cut off and all.

How far science has come over the years. Before it was almost impossible for Heart Surgery, now it's possible for a Head transplant

But what if this happens? [img]http://deathandtaxesmag.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/skroob_backwards.jpg[/img]

This is kinda scary.

[QUOTE=The Baconator;41275930]I believe this was already done for dogs a few decades ago[/QUOTE] of course [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/science/Collie1-Post.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Judas;41275979]of course [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/science/Collie1-Post.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Those poor dogs.

[QUOTE=Judas;41275979]of course [img]http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/science/Collie1-Post.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Straight out of my nightmares.