An article about “zombie pigs” appeared in several of my newsletters last week. I’m sure you’ve heard the story about pigs’ brains being regenerated after they’d died? This article explains it really well https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/20382/20190418/zombie-pigs-scientists-restores-brain-activity-in-pigs-four-hours-after-death I got the heebie-jeebies when I first read the news. Once you’re dead, you’re dead. Unless ... and this really creeps me out.
Right now, Ted and I are rewatched the old gothic soap, Dark Shadows. It aired from 1966-71. I was one of the kids who ran home every day from school to make sure I got there in time to watch the show. I’m still a fan. I write Dark Shadows fan fiction and have been to a couple of the annual Fests. Anyway, we’re currently on the “Frankenstein” story line.
Barnabas, who’s suffered the curse of vampirism for almost 200 years, is being helped by Dr. Eric Lang and Dr. Julia Hoffman. Dr. Lang’s theory is that he can transfer Barnabas’ life force to the sewn-together body and free Barnabas from the curse. Now, why, in this day and age, did Dr. Lang resort to grave robbing instead of just getting a fresh, whole body from a hospital or morgue? No matter. Dr. Lang was playing God (or Higher Power).
Dr. Frankenstein, in the Mary Shelley book and in the movies, also was playing God by using experimental means to bring life to a sewn together corpse. Why didn’t they just use a whole body? I guess it adds to the horror to imagine the new body is made up of various peoples’ limbs, torso, and “Abby Normal” brains.
One question I’ve asked myself again and again when watching this Dark Shadows storyline or the many Frankenstein movies is: what about the soul? I believe we have souls that are part of our life forces. I think when our bodies die, our souls move on to another plane we can’t see. Call it heaven or whatever makes sense to you.
The scientists at Yale were able to regenerate cells in the brains of decapitated pigs (they were already decapitated before the scientists got them). It’s cool but it’s also spooky. Will they get to the point where they can bring the organs of people back to life after they died? Are the people the same as they were before they died, considering that with death their life force and soul are gone.
This could be a great technology for people who have organs that are failing. Maybe it could replace transplants. Maybe something like this could help repair brain damage in a living person that had an accident or a stroke. It’s fascinating but at the same time it’s creepy.
No comments:
Post a Comment