Name: Dalton
Status: student
Grade: 6-8
Location: IN
Country: USA
Date: Spring 2012
Question:
Our organs age just as our bodies do, but our bodies ageing dose not kill us our organs becoming to weak to support us and keep us alive. if you were to replace your old damaged organs with new healthy ones would you be able to live on?
Replies:
Dalton,
Several organs could be replaced as you suggest but there is a huge supply problem and the cost would be astronomical. Furthermore, the body's organs work together and not as separate units so replacing one will often require multiple organ replacement at the same time. However, the nervous system, especially the brain, would not be replaceable and they age as well. Keep in mind that our bodies have not evolved to live forever. So to answer you question - no, it is just not practical.
Many ethical issues are involved with this idea as well. Medical science may be able to prolong life with a cellular approach by keeping cells young, but it does not look good for progress in this area in the near future. Most research is focused on curing diseases.
Search the web for more information on this topic.
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