1970 Monkey Head Transplant

Overview

In 1970, a groundbreaking but controversial medical experiment was conducted involving the transplantation of a monkey's head.

Procedure Details

• Doctor's Actions: A doctor removed the head of a monkey and replaced it with the head of a different monkey.
• Technical Process: This involved meticulously connecting the neck tissues between the donor head and the recipient body.

Outcomes

• Survival and Functionality:
  • The monkey survived the procedure and regained consciousness.
  • It was able to see and hear after the transplant.
• Limitations:
  • The spinal cord was not connected, resulting in the monkey being unable to move its body.
  • The monkey only survived for a few days following the transplant.

Conclusion

While the procedure was technically successful in terms of reattaching the head and restoring some sensory functions, the inability to connect the spinal cord severely limited the outcome and led to the monkey's short lifespan post-surgery.