Chapter 8, Page 13
Tailor-Made “Super” Organs? Why Settle for Less?
The Answer Might Surprise You…
By Dr. Gruen Lunther
We live in an age of artificial organs, where most organs can be synthetically created in a lab to desired genetic specifications. In many cases, these lab-grown organs can even be designed better, stronger, and more resilient than the ones we’re born with. 3D-bioprinting is another aspect of regenerative medicine that can also offer patients an entirely new organ, instead of opting for traditional transplants—an outdated practice which required willing donors, extensive waiting lists, and potential health risk during the procedure.
Further, with the advent of cybernetic technology, our natural organs and assorted body parts may soon be on the way out altogether. Full-body prosthesis is still incredibly rare, with less than 2% of the world’s population able to afford such an expense. However, cybernetic limbs have become increasingly commonplace—and, unlike two decades ago, where most cyborg components were strictly geared for military use—they now offer patients a wide variety of options.
But, despite all of this, there is still a ‘not so small’ percentage of the population who are against artificial implantation—be it artificially grown or cybernetic. Some claim fears of “lab-grown” organs—citing them as unnatural, or that the technology is “too new” and may present possible health risks which have yet to be discovered. Some are morally opposed, due to religious or other personal beliefs. Another subgroup claims that genetically modified—and enhanced—organs are, in fact, not superior to the original human organs that we are born with. The financial cost is another major factor (more on this next week).
Next time, we’ll take a look at the growing black market organ trade. How is this still happening when we can make organs instead of stealing them?
Danger Zone One. Story by Midnight. Art by Salaiix.
These world building articles that come with every new post are pretty cool, and I enjoy reading them. I especially enjoyed this one by Dr. Gruen Lunther. We may even start to see legitimate articles like this being written in our lifetime
Thank you! Always happy to hear that they’re being read 🙂
I’m in 100% agreement with you on these articles. They are a wonderful way of adding nuance to the world as well as a way to answer questions that might come up in the course of the story; in this case, “Why bother when there are vat grown and cybernetic options?”
Quick thinking by Reena. Lock the thug in his own cell.
Regarding the World Building article: some people (usually the rich) prefer to take what others have rather than pay for it, specially if it meant someone else had to die for it
Why didn’t Reena curbstomp his face? Or, at least, use that truncheon like a suppository 😛
She could even keep it afterwards and then the next person they meet can get hit with his arse-juice 😀
🤔She may have been ^tempted^ ~ but I don’t think she wanted to waste time on whether or not to give-in to them🤨
Wise move on her part, IMHO. His mistake was getting close to her. She’s smart not to make the same mistake.