Cloning of human body parts for transplant surgery


No - this is not what is meant by cloning of human body parts for transplant surgery, although some people distrust scientists enough to believe that this is so!

In fact it is just an experiment to see if cells can be encouraged to grow on a preformed structure. Admittedly the mouse is a rather strange hairless variety, but would you like an ear covered with mouse hair?

Transplant data

This graph shows the difference between the need for transplant organs and the supply from deceased donors in the UK for the last 10 years.

Some questions about this information

What is the general trend shown by the need for transplant organs over the time period covered?
>gradual increase for the first few years (5248-5673), then more rapid increase recently (up to 7234)

What does the term deceased mean?
> dead - following road traffic accidents or (sudden?) illness

What is the general trend shown by the number of deceased donors over the time period covered?
>very steady (range 738-796) - no real increase or decrease

What is the general relationship between the number of deceased donors and the number of organs transplanted over the time period covered?
>number of transplanted organs is about 2-3 x as many as number of donors

How would you explain this?
>Each donor gives both kidneys and possibly other organs
The gap between the supply of and demand for organs for transplantation has widened from approximately one to two times the (fairly steady) supply figure.

There are 5 main areas of transplant activity:
kidney, pancreas, cardiothoracic, liver, cornea.


Web references

http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1644154.htm
Great Moments in science : Mouse with Human Ear

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1949073.stm
Artificial liver 'could be grown'- BBC news story

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14219303.800-the-organ-factory-of-the-future.html
The organ factory of the future? - A New Scientist archive article dating back to 18 June 1994

http://www.religioustolerance.org/clo_ther.htm
Therapeutic cloning: How it is done; possible benefits - quite a balanced article from Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/statistics/transplant_activity_report/current_activity_reports/ukt/transplant_activity_uk_2006-2007.pdf
Transplant Activity in the UK 2006-2007
This report is much more informative than macabre, and practically every graph and table is thought-provoking!

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/08/17/cloned.pigs.02/index.html
New pig cloning research promising yet risky, studies indicate

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml#organsQ
Cloning Fact Sheet from the Human Genome Program