right, this is something slightly different to the usual junior topics but bear with me.
ive got a general studies exam on genetic engineering/cloning/GM food vs Organic/ethics etc etc. currently we're debating the pros and cons but i was asked a very interesting question today:
scenario: you are dying of kidney failure and need a transplant a.s.a.p. but theres no kidneys coming your way.
if it were possible (as it could well be very soon) would you grow yourself a new kidney and give birth to it? (kinda applies to girls there, though guys can find someone else to grow it for them) means you wouldnt reject it as youd form it from your own kidney cells etc or however its being done.
yes or no?
kidney...
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Nope, you can't.
Firstly, note that it is totally possible to live with only one kidney functioning.
In terms of being able to grow another kidney, no you can't because an organ like the kidney can't be encouraged to redevelop, in the same way as the liver or skin cells (homogenious tissue)
The only way in which kidneys could be grown is through Stem Cell Therapy treatment. This won't be available for about another 30 - 50 years and would only grow a kidney externally i.e. outside the body
Firstly, note that it is totally possible to live with only one kidney functioning.
In terms of being able to grow another kidney, no you can't because an organ like the kidney can't be encouraged to redevelop, in the same way as the liver or skin cells (homogenious tissue)
The only way in which kidneys could be grown is through Stem Cell Therapy treatment. This won't be available for about another 30 - 50 years and would only grow a kidney externally i.e. outside the body
- Peter B
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petty b my dearest little friend (and yes you are littler than little me)
it was only the idea of it, i didnt mention timescale and 30 years is soon. you need a fertilized egg to develop as a kidney, so you could grow it and give birth to it, that is the general concept anyway. its not the biology its the ethics im on about.
and the situation was with no kidneys really.
well i wouldnt as im against genetic engineering but im just like that anyway. imagine giving birth to a kidney...!
it was only the idea of it, i didnt mention timescale and 30 years is soon. you need a fertilized egg to develop as a kidney, so you could grow it and give birth to it, that is the general concept anyway. its not the biology its the ethics im on about.
and the situation was with no kidneys really.
well i wouldnt as im against genetic engineering but im just like that anyway. imagine giving birth to a kidney...!
- *Carol*
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NO!!*Carol* wrote:you need a fertilized egg to develop as a kidney
It's a stem cell you need, hence stem cell treatment
You can't develop a kidney solely with a fertilized egg (except if you were creating a whole new human being of course)
- Peter B
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You can stop talking about genetic engineering right now because stem cell treatment does not involve any form of genetical modification or engineering, unlike (obviously) your conceived idea of it being about fertilisation which it definately isn't
- Peter B
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hee hee geeking now.. somsone restrain me! and i dont do biology so i could be dreaming the whole concept!
its all about 'embryonic stem cells' - cells have the potential to turn into almost any tissue in the body. remove the nucleus and insert a nucleus from a kidney cell which tell the cell to grow into a kidney...im sure thats what the video was telling me!!
even if the whole biology is wrong, just pretend its possible! i jus couldnt get much arguining out of my class
what about cloning anyway? right or wrong?
its all about 'embryonic stem cells' - cells have the potential to turn into almost any tissue in the body. remove the nucleus and insert a nucleus from a kidney cell which tell the cell to grow into a kidney...im sure thats what the video was telling me!!
even if the whole biology is wrong, just pretend its possible! i jus couldnt get much arguining out of my class
what about cloning anyway? right or wrong?
- *Carol*
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I personally dont disagree with cloning, you're still creating a completly new Human being, and besides there are hundreds of clones walking around as I speak - identical twins. The ethical implications don't so much come into the technology but as with so many other things with the purpose.
If some one creates a clone to save the life of smebody thats one thing, if they create a clone to fulfill their unfulfilled potential its not, but only for the same reason that you shouldnt have kids to fill a hole in your life and not allow them to thimk for themselves or follow their ideas.
If some one creates a clone to save the life of smebody thats one thing, if they create a clone to fulfill their unfulfilled potential its not, but only for the same reason that you shouldnt have kids to fill a hole in your life and not allow them to thimk for themselves or follow their ideas.
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