if a human heart is transplanted with the heart of a pig, will it still function the same?

Answer 1

No. The pig will die without a heart. It'll still be a pig...but it will be considerably less active.

Answer 2

Although a few ancient Greek philosophers proposed the idea that the heart is just a pump, the idea wasn't conclusively proven until 1616AD (by William Harvey). Aristotle thought the heart was the origin of intelligence and that the brain was merely a cooling system for the blood. The Aztecs believed that the spark of life was in the heart (we now know the electrical pacemaker spark originates in the brain). The Aztecs thought brains were . . .umm . . . tasty! Three out of four zombies agree that brains are tasty. Oh, the fourth zombie just wasn't paying attention--he now says he also agrees. At the time the Bible was being written, the common opinion (and presumably that of the Bible's divinely-inspired authors) was that the heart was the literal home of the emotions and of the soul. If God exists, he didn't disabuse his writing staff of the notion (a little joke on them I guess: He's got some sense of humor). But there are people who--now that the pump theory has been proven--will claim that the Bible authors were using metaphor and were not speaking literally of the heart. Just don't ask those people for any proof or you will be disappointed. Even today, some people make bold claims about the heart having brain-like functions (similar to the gut-brain theory). But obviously, a mechanical heart cannot do brainwork, yet it can facilitate life for a short period (I think the record is just over three months). And a transplanted human heart can maintain life for many, many years without the transplant surgeons having reconnected any special "smart-heart" connections. So, even if the heart were doing something more than pumping, only the pumping is necessary for life. So, if we're satisfied that the heart is just a pump, then why wouldn't it be possible to replace a human heart with a pig heart? Well, it has been attempted and it worked, but never for more than a day. Other, less-critical whole-organs have also been transplanted into humans but even those have not been enduring successes. In cross-species transplants, there are compatibility issues, political/legal issues, and concerns about inter-species virus transmission. The best hope for transplant progress is probably not from animal donors--it's probably human tissue cloning.

Answer 3

It functions the same.. Rejection drugs etc. need to be taken to avoid problems..

I am looking at the possibility of needing a new heart valve (most likely a pig valve) in abour 15 more years (when I am about 50ish) due to a genetic defect and leaky valve.. Right now the leak isn't bad but as I age the leak seems to be getting worse thus the estimation of needing a new valve at about 50..

Answer 4

If a Jewish man were to have his heart transplanted with the heart of a pig - what would he do? Would he reject himself?

Answer 5

If it is physically possible - yes. The human heart is just a 'pump'; it is NOT the Heart referred to in God's Word.

Answer 6

Yes. The heart is just a pump.

atheist

Answer 7

I saw this on Gray's Anatomy that they did that. Assuming it's true then yes it would still function the same. I never bothered to look to see if it actually worked.

Answer 8

You'd probably get the insatiable urge to roll in your own feces!

Always remember + never forget:
Booze + Drugs + Unprotected Sex = Retarded Babies

Answer 9

no but it will extend ones life much of the time .

Answer 10

Ask the scientists. Obviously, they have all your answers.