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Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

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Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#61

Post by wollstonecraft »

platz wrote: post #29

Historically, there have been many efforts in the past to make artificial blood and IIRC they didn't turn out well for the patients. It's a bit like the the body with vitamins. At first they thought vitamins were all you needed - then they started discovering micro-nutrients. Blood is pretty complex - does this include just the highest-order bits of blood, or does it include everything that blood has?

It looks like we know about 36 different blood group systems, including the well-known ABO and Rh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_blood_group_systems

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#62

Post by lancepioch »

Mizza wrote: post #18

Extremely freaking cool. Any idea how this stuff is manufactured? Can it be produced cheaply enough to potentially replace the entire blood donation system?

It seems like they are able to take existing blood and modify the type so that even people that aren't universal blood donors can still have it used on anybody that needs it.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#63

Post by Karunamon »

PyroLagus wrote: post #59
Karunamon wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least in the case of one of those groups (Jehovah's Witnesses), it's based on a bit of text in the bible saying literally "abstain from blood". Transfusions are no good, including your own blood previously stored. Fractions and products are in a grey area though and left up to personal conscience.

> including your own blood previously stored Wait, really?

Yeah. It's not a soul thing (since they don't believe it souls) or an ownership thing, it's that you're taking blood into your body. Fractions and such are considered a grey area since it's not technically "blood" aymore.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#64

Post by agumonkey »

wbl wrote: post #32
platz wrote: post #29

Historically, there have been many efforts in the past to make artificial blood and IIRC they didn't turn out well for the patients. It's a bit like the the body with vitamins. At first they thought vitamins were all you needed - then they started discovering micro-nutrients. Blood is pretty complex - does this include just the highest-order bits of blood, or does it include everything that blood has?

If I'm bleeding out and the blood bank is dry I'm not going to be so picky. A few weeks later I'll have made my own to replace it.

Yeah that was my first thought. Doesn't need to be a full replacement, if side effects are minuscule and long term, this would be a superb buffer. Many hospitals are asking for donations. Well now they might ask for subventions :p

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#65

Post by JoelMcCracken »

Karunamon wrote: post #63
PyroLagus wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> including your own blood previously stored Wait, really?

Yeah. It's not a soul thing (since they don't believe it souls) or an ownership thing, it's that you're taking blood into your body. Fractions and such are considered a grey area since it's not technically "blood" aymore.

I am a JW. Personally, I wont accept anything that I know of having been derived from blood. That would include the artificial blood mentioned here as it is so-derived (AFAIKT it has red blood cells and platelets).

But, already existing blood volumizers are normally sufficient to save a person who suffered extreme blood loss; restoration of flow is more important than restoration of all the blood contents.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#66

Post by JoelMcCracken »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #51
elboru wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I also wonder whether religious groups who don't accept blood would potentially accept this. I understand they don’t accept blood from other people because they believe the blood is tightly related to the soul. So if the blood is 100% artificial I don’t think they would have a reason to not accept it, unless they find another reason, and I’m sure some obscure group will find a reason to not accept artificial blood…

I had experience with one such group (Jehovah's Witnesses), so I can speak only about them, but yes, I believe they would happily accept artificial blood. The transfusion ban for JWs is related to their interpretation of Bible's verses about blood as a symbol, and verses banning consumption of blood. They already accept some blood-derived medication; generally, the smaller subcomponent of blood something is, the more…

I understand this is a personal matter but I will not accept anything that I know of having been derived from blood.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#67

Post by JoelMcCracken »

elboru wrote: post #41
BillinghamJ wrote: post #8

This is really interesting. I wonder whether it truly is compatible with every single person, e.g. even RH-null etc? I also wonder whether religious groups who don't accept blood would potentially accept this.

> I also wonder whether religious groups who don't accept blood would potentially accept this. I understand they don’t accept blood from other people because they believe the blood is tightly related to the soul. So if the blood is 100% artificial I don’t think they would have a reason to not accept it, unless they find another reason, and I’m sure some obscure group will find a reason to not accept artificial blood…

If it was 100% artificial, I would absolutely accept it, personally. But it would have to be not in any way derived from blood.

Re: Artificial blood developed for patients of any blood type, researchers say

#69

Post by kif »

Geee wrote: post #68

How long until we don't need lungs/heart/digestion/etc. any more? With artificial blood it becomes much easier. I think we'll see the 'brain in a vat' in 20 years. This is a huge step towards immortality.

Can’t wait to immortalize myself in a Futurama style head jar.
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