Can We Bring The Dead Back To Life?

Tech & Methods

The podcast explores the groundbreaking technology and methods used to restore dead cells, as explained by David Andrijevic. He describes the use of a machine perfusion device and a synthetic perfusate, akin to a heart-lung machine, to revive cells in a pig that had been dead for an hour 1. This innovative approach combines synthetic blood with the animal's blood to restore circulation and cellular function. The complexity of the chemical cocktail used in this process is highlighted, emphasizing the intricate balance of vitamins, amino acids, and oxygen carriers required to achieve success 2. Andrijevic notes, "It's everything altogether that we think it's what makes the difference."

   

Organ Transplants

The restoration of dead cells holds significant promise for organ transplantation. David Andrijevic explains that the ultimate goal is to recover organs to a fully functional state for transplantation, rather than having them partially working 3. This process begins with reviving individual cells, which can eventually lead to the restoration of entire organs. The potential to extend the perfusion time and transplant these organs into other animals is a future step in this research 4. Andrijevic emphasizes, "We are trying to do two things at once... to prolong this perfusion time... and transplant these organs to other animals."

   

Ethics & Implications

The ethical considerations and implications of restoring dead cells are profound. David Andrijevic discusses the oversight by bioethicists and committees to ensure ethical standards are met in their research 5. The concept of a "death spectrum" is introduced, challenging the binary notion of life and death by suggesting that dying is a continuum rather than an instantaneous event 6. Neil deGrasse Tyson reflects, "It's amazing because we think in binary terms, you're either alive or you're dead."