Would you add extra appendages to your body?

[Michael 345]

In the future advances in the medical field have now been capable of limb regeneration. At a world conference one of the leading experts revealed she had been asked if she would grow (or attach) an additional limb on a person

Person had a particular work requirement and a extra limb would be helpful for carrying out their work

She promised to think, and investagate, the matter and to get back to the person. For the moment she would appreciate any views from any member of this conference

Numerous problems sprang to mind. No ethical reason she could think of though

So would you grow, or attach, a (any) extra appendage?

 

[billvon]

In the future advances in the medical field have now been capable of limb regeneration. At a world conference one of the leading experts revealed she had been asked if she would grow (or attach) an additional limb on a person

Well, yes. But it wouldn't work. So unless you want it for decoration, or to get in a freak show or something, it would just be insensate dead weight.

 

[DaveC426913]

Well, yes. But it wouldn't work. So unless you want it for decoration, or to get in a freak show or something, it would just be insensate dead weight.

In an odd coincidence, I have been writing up a fictional sci fi character in the form of an enhanced German Shepherd with a humanlike arm prosthetic that is controlled by the nerves that normally go to its tail.

 

[Michael 345]

Well, yes. But it wouldn't work. So unless you want it for decoration, or to get in a freak show or something, it would just be insensate dead weight.

It's a given that it would work

extra limb would be helpful for carrying out their work

humanlike arm prosthetic that is controlled by the nerves that normally go to its tail.

Interesting. I was the along the lines of an extra arm, or two even. Modify the shoulder joint to have two places for two humerus two arms forward two arms back

During the procedure split the original median nerve, radial nerve and ulnar nerve to join with the new arm equivalents. Let the brain work out how to control the new arm(s)

 

[RainbowSingularity]

In the future advances in the medical field have now been capable of limb regeneration. At a world conference one of the leading experts revealed she had been asked if she would grow (or attach) an additional limb on a person

Person had a particular work requirement and a extra limb would be helpful for carrying out their work

She promised to think, and investagate, the matter and to get back to the person. For the moment she would appreciate any views from any member of this conference

Numerous problems sprang to mind. No ethical reason she could think of though

So would you grow, or attach, a (any) extra appendage?

everything is balanced as a dual sided process
& co-ordination would be important
if you dont have the muscle structure attached to the right positions
you wont be able to use the extra arm or leg

what about an extra finger ?
how would you operate it ?
would be popular with musicians
extra organs might be good like extra kidneys and extra liver

It's a given that it would work





Interesting. I was the along the lines of an extra arm, or two even. Modify the shoulder joint to have two places for two humerus two arms forward two arms back

During the procedure split the original median nerve, radial nerve and ulnar nerve to join with the new arm equivalents. Let the brain work out how to control the new arm(s)

would it turn out to require twice as much energy to only achieve the same level of work ?
the heart would need to be increased in size

 

[Michael 345]

the heart would need to be increased in size

The heart does increase in size as its work load increases

what about an extra finger ?

Sure why not?

how would you operate it ?

Branch off a nerve to make a new nerve pathway to (within) the new finger from a adjacent finger. I'm guessing a LOT of exercise manipulation of the new finger will be required to inform the brain of its extra responsibility (operating the new finger)

Will the brain twig it has a new finger grown / surgically attached to the body?
Another guess that grown would be best option

 

[Jeeves]

erson had a particular work requirement and a extra limb would be helpful for carrying out their work

Are we special-ordering people fitted to specific jobs? What if we did that and the job became obsolete? Do we remove the specialized limb and fit the worker with a different appendage, or make the whole person redundant?

So would you grow, or attach, a (any) extra appendage?

Sure. I've always wanted a long, prehensile tentacle. It would go in the upper back, attached to the spinal cord, and usually stay curled up flat, like a compact backpack. When required, I could uncoil it to pull things behind me, or guide rolling luggage at either side, or reach around to the front over either shoulder, or at waist level, to act as third hand. be pretty useful as a defensive weapon, too.
If it's attached to the nervous system, the brain would have acknowledge it, but might not understand what is. You would have to train a whole new neural pathway to operate it - consciously at first, the way you use power tools; eventually, it would become automatic.

 

[Michael 345]

Are we special-ordering people fitted to specific jobs?

No the decision to add extra appendage made by the person themselves

Do we remove the specialized limb and fit the worker with a different appendage

To be worked out between person and surgeon

make the whole person redundant

Being made redundant happens now with automation
Imagine eBay ad in future
"One extra appendage willing to be donated to suitable person
In excellent young 4 years of age healthy condition. Only being removed because no longer required"

I've always wanted a long, prehensile tentacle

May you live long enough to have wish granted

It would go in the upper back, attached to the spinal cord, and usually stay curled up flat, like a compact backpack. When required, I could uncoil it to pull things behind me, or guide rolling luggage at either side, or reach around to the front over either shoulder, or at waist level, to act as third hand. be pretty useful as a defensive weapon, too

Sounds like you have already been working on some details

If it's attached to the nervous system

It would have to be

the brain would have acknowledge it, but might not understand what is

Of course acknowledge. Not sure about the understand since obviously one section of the brain KNOWS you have added the extra appendage

You would have to train a whole new neural pathway to operate it consciously

My thoughts on how to achieve - consciously - would be to have the appendage moved to a position and monitor the nerve impulses going back to the brain. Repeat until the brain understands said nerve impulses SENT the appendage would move it into the position

 

[Jeeves]

Not sure about the understand since obviously one section of the brain KNOWS you have added the extra appendage

Yes, but not what it is, what it's supposed to do or how to control it. None of this information is in the DNA, and it didn't form in the neural networks in utero or infancy, as it would have done all the other organs and appendages.

My thoughts on how to achieve - consciously - would be to have the appendage moved to a position and monitor the nerve impulses going back to the brain.

We already have that technology. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170206084904.htm

 

[Jeeves]

And the next thing I'll want is a pair of wings with a photovoltaic upper surface, so it would power itself in flight and act as both shelter and heat source at rest.
(Of course I've thought about this! What sf aficionado hasn't?)

 

[Michael 345]

And the next thing I'll want is a pair of wings with a photovoltaic upper surface, so it would power itself in flight and act as both shelter and heat source at rest

Better get the body muscle strength to flap the wings

(Of course I've thought about this! What sf aficionado hasn't?)

While I have considered the possibility, never considered applying said technology to myself, with flying being the exception

 

[Jeeves]

Better get the body muscle strength to flap the wings

Didn't i say? They generate their own energy from the sun. Like these guys.

 

[Michael 345]

Didn't i say? They generate their own energy from the sun. Like these guys.

Like what guys?

Anyway generate(ing) their own energy to flap is one aspect, (up down, up down) along with a seperate strong muscular system needed to keeping wings attached along with another system which has the ability to twist tendons (?) needed for charging the aerodynamics of the wing

Personally I would like said required energy to come from nourishment not sunlight

 

[Michael 345]

Like these guys.

Like these guys <<<didn't come up looking like a link in the forum

Was coloured blue in alert email and I read article from using link there

Anyway check out this dozzy

Fish built with plastic and heart cells swims for three months

Bio-hybrid mechanism regrew muscles, paving way for bio-artificial hearts.

https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/biorobot-heart-cells-swims/?amp=1

Flying with wings humans here we come