Comments on: A Visit To The Past: Xenotransplants, Good Or Bad?
http://www.agenttimonline.com/2005/05/27/a-visit-to-the-past-xenotransplants-good-or-bad/
Agent Tim's blog.Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:27:41 +0000http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7hourly1By: David Ketter
http://www.agenttimonline.com/2005/05/27/a-visit-to-the-past-xenotransplants-good-or-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-3656
David KetterWed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000http://agenttimonline.com/?p=278#comment-3656Hey Tim, this reminds me of an article written by a friend of mine a few months back. It can be found at the following
You'll have to login first and then scroll down to the article "Unknown Animal" by Alexa Schratz.
-DavidHey Tim, this reminds me of an article written by a friend of mine a few months back. It can be found at the following
You’ll have to login first and then scroll down to the article “Unknown Animal” by Alexa Schratz.
-David
]]>By: Catez
http://www.agenttimonline.com/2005/05/27/a-visit-to-the-past-xenotransplants-good-or-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-3657
CatezWed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000http://agenttimonline.com/?p=278#comment-3657Hi Tim,
Interesting to revisit this. Just a note on cloning - cloning is used regularly in many helpful ways. I have cloned pieces of DNA in bacteria to get them to produce a protein. Then I harvest the protein and use it to study how it works. So when we talk about cloning we need to specify what it is that is being cloned. I think what you are referring to in your post is cloning of humans or human embryos - which is unethical. But working with DNA is not all bad - in fact much of it is good. We just don't hear so much about the good. DNA technology has helped to pinpoint the causes of some diseaes which helps in working on drug development for cures or treatments. DNA technology is also used in finding out what viruses are made of and the development of vaccines.
Regarding my post on xenotransplants - yes, I did raise the issue of virus transmission. It is an important concern. Which is why I advise people that if they eat pork it should be very well cooked!
We put DNA into our bodies all the time - we eat DNA in fruit, and vegetables for example. We host billions of non-harmful bacteria in our intestines which all have their own DNA. So it isn't about putting DNA into our body - but which DNA we put it, if you see what I mean.
I recall answering your last point previously (elephant memory, I know), the cells are regulated by density dependence - they don't just keep dividing and dividing, but have contact inhibition. What has been found in preliminary trials is that transplanting the insulin-producing cells works - but because it is considered too risky as far as virus transmission is concerned we don't know how long it lasts for. A problem with any kind of transplant is that the cells or organs that were transplanted may not always last.
I agree that the virus risk is too great right now on the xenotransplants.Hi Tim,
Interesting to revisit this. Just a note on cloning - cloning is used regularly in many helpful ways. I have cloned pieces of DNA in bacteria to get them to produce a protein. Then I harvest the protein and use it to study how it works. So when we talk about cloning we need to specify what it is that is being cloned. I think what you are referring to in your post is cloning of humans or human embryos - which is unethical. But working with DNA is not all bad - in fact much of it is good. We just don’t hear so much about the good. DNA technology has helped to pinpoint the causes of some diseaes which helps in working on drug development for cures or treatments. DNA technology is also used in finding out what viruses are made of and the development of vaccines.
Regarding my post on xenotransplants - yes, I did raise the issue of virus transmission. It is an important concern. Which is why I advise people that if they eat pork it should be very well cooked!
We put DNA into our bodies all the time - we eat DNA in fruit, and vegetables for example. We host billions of non-harmful bacteria in our intestines which all have their own DNA. So it isn’t about putting DNA into our body - but which DNA we put it, if you see what I mean.
I recall answering your last point previously (elephant memory, I know), the cells are regulated by density dependence - they don’t just keep dividing and dividing, but have contact inhibition. What has been found in preliminary trials is that transplanting the insulin-producing cells works - but because it is considered too risky as far as virus transmission is concerned we don’t know how long it lasts for. A problem with any kind of transplant is that the cells or organs that were transplanted may not always last.
I agree that the virus risk is too great right now on the xenotransplants.
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