A Conversation for Ask h2g2

Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 1

Icy North

I was just catching up with some back issues of New Scientist and found this one on human head transplants:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22530103-700-first-human-head-transplant-could-happen-in-two-years/

I guess it's a bit of a misnomer - you'd actually be having a head-down full body transplant. Clearly, fusing the spinal cords isn't something the medics are too worried about.

So, three important questions:

1. Is this ethical?

2. Would we be able to psychologically cope with this?

and 3. Whose body would you like to fuse your head to? smiley - smiley

(or indeed, whose head would you like to fuse your body to?)


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 2

Icy North

(fixing that https link, sorry):

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22530103-700-first-human-head-transplant-could-happen-in-two-years/


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 3

bobstafford

So assuming donors could be a problem Zaphod Beblebrox could become the new look


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 4

bobstafford

The Futurama head museam is a possibility smiley - bigeyes


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 5

BigAl Patron Saint of Left Handers Keeper of the Glowing Pickle and Monobrows

I can't understand why it's not called a 'whole body tranplant' (to the head)


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 6

Pink Paisley

Could I have my head transplanted onto my own 20 year old body?

PP.


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 7

Icy North

This may be one for the future, but it would be good if we could have 'hot-swappable' bodies to suit the occasion.

Some serious design decisions would first need to be made - not least, whether to have the neck as a screw or bayonet fitting.


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 8

bobstafford

Can you clone a replacement new body and when the time comes swap the knackered original fro the pre prepared clone. No rejection problem even the same fingerprints.

smiley - profbetter still just swap the brain


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 9

paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant

"Can you clone a replacement new body and when the time comes swap the knackered original fro the pre prepared clone?" [Bob Stafford]

I'm thinking no. The body requires signals from the brain in order to function. It would be more practical to cone the whole body and then swap the two heads.


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 10

swl

Is there a world shortage of people?


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 11

Mr. X ---> "Be excellent to each other. And party on, dudes!"

They'd be different fingerprints in point of fact. Fingerprints form in the womb, their pattern isn't genetic.

smiley - pirate


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 12

bobstafford

So a clone is not identical in every way a DNA duplicate is not exact, Interesting


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 13

Mr. X ---> "Be excellent to each other. And party on, dudes!"

Best demonstrated by the differences between identical twins. smiley - smileysmiley - smiley

smiley - pirate


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 14

paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant

There may not be a shortage of people, but there's only one of me. smiley - winkeye


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 15

Deb

Icy: "Some serious design decisions would first need to be made - not least, whether to have the neck as a screw or bayonet fitting."

Now, I'm thinking more along the lines of using something like a headphone jack to plug into the top of the spine.

smiley - rofl only on h2g2

Deb smiley - cheerup


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 16

Icy North

Actually, you're on to something there - we just need to produce a spinal cord in a pluggable cable form. We could then move our head around with complete freedom. Handy for seeing what we look like from behind, or for looking under the bed without having to lie on the floor. The possibilities are endless.


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 17

swl

Not a USB port please - it'd get immensely tiring having to plug your head in three times, every time.


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 18

bobstafford

That gives a whole new meaning to plug and play


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 19

paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant

I'm not sure I want to be able to see my butt. smiley - blush


Human head transplants - A good idea?

Post 20

Rod

Ah, butt be careful if you wear a loose jacket/shirt with breast pockets... if you don't check the buttons are done up, your camera is likely to go Clonk! onto a concrete floor.

(been there too, done that too)


Key: Complain about this post