Human head transplantation could become a reality in two years - Polidicks

[QUOTE]It's a fascinating concept. You have an otherwise perfectly healthy head on a body that no longer functions. You have, also, an otherwise perfectly healthy donor body. What if you could take the head from its non-functioning body and transplant it onto the healthy body? It seems like the stuff of science-fiction (and it has been), but it's not, perhaps, as impossible as it sounds. Take, for instance, the work of Russian transplant pioneer Vladimir Demikhov, who in the 1950s successfully transplanted dogs' heads onto the bodies of other dogs, creating living two-headed dogs. Or Doctor Robert White, who transplanted the head of one monkey on to another in 1970. The experiments of both scientists proved vital for the advancement of transplant techniques. But the animals didn't survive very long; Dr White's monkey lived for just nine days before dying of transplant immunorejection. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE] However, Surgeon Sergio Canavero, director of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group in Italy, who first proposed a serious attempt at human head transplant in 2013, believes he has developed a technique that circumvents the difficulties experienced by Demikhov and White. In a paper published in Surgical Neurology International, he has outlined his technique: first, both the transplant head and the donor body would need to be cooled in order to slow cell death. Then, the neck of both would be cut and the major blood vessels linked with tubes. Finally, the spinal cords would be severed, with as clean a cut as possible. Joining the spinal cords, with the tightly packed nerves inside, is key. The plan involves flushing the area with polyethylene glycol, followed by several hours of injections of the same, a chemical that encourages the fat in cell membranes to mesh. The blood vessels, muscles and skin would then be sutured and the patient would be induced into a coma for several weeks to keep them from moving around; meanwhile, electrodes would stimulate the spine with electricity in an attempt to strengthen the new nerve connections. In case of rejection, the patient would be given anti-rejection immunosuppressants. If the procedure was successful, Dr Canavero said, then the patient would possibly be able to walk again within a year -- with physiotherapy to help. However, the technique has yet to be tested. [/QUOTE] [URL]http://www.cnet.com/news/human-head-transplant-just-two-years-away-surgeon-claims/[/URL]

-sNip-

When they mention the two headed dog, all I can think about is that woman who had her head transplanted onto a dog in Mars Attacks. [IMG]http://imaginarycinema.com/images/burton/normal_ma_509.jpg[/IMG]

New obesity treatments are coming along well, I see.

The amount of rehab needed afterwards would be insufferable.. not to mention how dangerous the brain chemistry adapting to the body chemistry would be.. as well as the dangers of rejection. The logistics are mindblowing.

finally i can be a true lady

[QUOTE=Bradyns;47223599]The amount of rehab needed afterwards would be insufferable.. not to mention how dangerous the brain chemistry adapting to the body chemistry would be.. as well as the dangers of rejection. The logistics are mindblowing.[/QUOTE] thats why research nerds do it and not facepunch posters

That date has to be exaggerated, considering the complications.

[QUOTE=Elexar;47223614]thats why research nerds do it and not facepunch posters[/QUOTE] There are quite a few research nerd Facepunch posters..

They should skip the head transplant and go straight to a brain transplant. The brain in immunoprivileged meaning that the body won't reject it. Immunosuppressants really fuck up your body.

This is some Reanimator shit.

[QUOTE=Bradyns;47223628]There are quite a few research nerd Facepunch posters..[/QUOTE] like two? the rest of this forum is full of psuedo intellectual people who think they know more than actual researchers

I don't belive this wouldnt work every well. Cause the spinal cord is apart of your brain. I think you would have a better success rate if they transplanted the spinal cord along with the brain.

Could this develop into a pseudoinmortality with the transplants of an older head into a younger body or both parts would grow up parallel?

[QUOTE=Axsisel;47223680]Could this develop into a pseudoinmortality with the transplants of an older head into a younger body or both parts would grow up parallel?[/QUOTE] This would be creepy as hell. In both visual and moral means.

I don't like this concept. It feels deeply wrong to me.

[QUOTE=Trekintosh;47223692]I don't like this concept. It feels deeply wrong to me.[/QUOTE] Who cares? Why is it any different from a liver or kidney transplant? What cause it's the brain, well would you rather have someone paralysed from the neck down and just be thankful they're alive or would you rather grow them a body and slap their brain in it. [editline]27th February 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Axsisel;47223680]Could this develop into a pseudoinmortality with the transplants of an older head into a younger body or both parts would grow up parallel?[/QUOTE] Nah man your brain ages and degrades over time. Really what we need to achieve for immortality is mind uploading.

Also, if this becomes a safe practice and you are a organ donor could the medics just take away your body for somebody else? I am a donor but the idea of being removed to the point of being just a head creeps me out.

[QUOTE=ksenior;47223638]They should skip the head transplant and go straight to a brain transplant. The brain in immunoprivileged meaning that the body won't reject it. Immunosuppressants really fuck up your body.[/QUOTE] Some straight up Karl Pilkington shit.

[QUOTE=Squarebob;47223709]Some straight up Karl Pilkington shit.[/QUOTE] The further we go the more correct he seems to be. These are some really interesting news, how would they re-connect the spinal nerves though?

[QUOTE=Axsisel;47223705]Also, if this becomes a safe practice and you are a organ donor could the medics just take away your body for somebody else? I am a donor but the idea of being removed to the point of being just a head creeps me out.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure you'll need to opt in for a whole body transplant. Even for an organ donor that's a pretty huge decision. [editline]27th February 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Buck.;47223718]The further we go the more correct he seems to be. These are some really interesting news, how would they re-connect the spinal nerves though?[/QUOTE] You make the body do it: [quote]The blood vessels, muscles and skin would then be sutured and the patient would be induced into a coma for several weeks to keep them from moving around; meanwhile, electrodes would stimulate the spine with electricity in an attempt to strengthen the new nerve connections.[/quote]

I hope you're ready for the biggest political comeback yet! [T]http://s30.postimg.org/6dj6x5v2p/1424967229386.jpg[/T]

If a white boy age five got his head into a black male of the same age, what kind of changes would its body have during puberty? If he ever had offspring would his sperm contain only the original body's DNA or a mix? Sorry for so many stupid questions but this is science fiction happening in front on my eyes.

[QUOTE=Rapscallion92;47223700] Nah man your brain ages and degrades over time. Really what we need to achieve for immortality is mind uploading.[/QUOTE] But what about that study that said young blood regenerates old cells?

As interesting as this is, I can't help but feel shocked by the idea.

[QUOTE=Axsisel;47223757]If a white boy age five got his head into a male year old black body what kind of changes would its body have during puberty? If he ever had offspring would his sperm contain only the original body's DNA or a mix? Sorry for so many stupid questions but this is science fiction happening in front on my eyes.[/QUOTE] That last ones a pretty good point, I mean if you got a body transplant fundamentally if you have kids you're gonna be having someone elses kids. Although if you give it some time we're managing to succesfully grow functioning muscle and organs in labs, once we can do that on a larger scale I can imagine after a while we'll be able to grow bodies so you could just take someones DNA, put them in a coma and wait for a body to grow. "Stage 4 colon cancer? Terminal? Well do you want a new body? Might take a wee while to grow but we can definitely do that for you? Buy now and we'll even throw in a couple of spare arms and add an inch to your wedding tackle."

Behead me all you want ISIS you will not stop me !! Muahaha

[QUOTE=ksenior;47223638]They should skip the head transplant and go straight to a brain transplant. The brain in immunoprivileged meaning that the body won't reject it. Immunosuppressants really fuck up your body.[/QUOTE] Could you imagine the identity fraud you could pull off if you did this!

If you put an old person's head on a young person's body would it rejuvenate? I'm likely thinking no, so sorry if this is a bit of a braindead (whey, puns) question.

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;47223785]If you put an old person's head on a young person's body would it rejuvenate? I'm likely thinking no, so sorry if this is a bit of a braindead (whey, puns) question.[/QUOTE] Maybe, there's evidence that something about young blood literally just rejuvenates old animals so who knows.