As the world enters the millenium with a population of 6 billion, the technology
development also takes new turns. Science has developed to the extent where someone
from 18th or 15th century might find this millenium out of place for them. Although, there
has been considerable development in all fields, especially the software field where the
growth is like a bacterial replication, we as humans are still unable to overcome the nature's
rules. At those times, we definetely know that there is something more powerful than
our brains which is incomprehensible till today.
          But I think we should be thankful to the scientists who has been toiling day and night
to cure the sufferings of human beings. For example, say a new drug (antibiotic--say ampicillin)
has to be discovered--it has to undergo several years before it comes to the hands of suffering
individuals who are in need of that drug. There are several ways to achieve this. I am just pointing
out a simple research method. First they will study the drug's chemical nature including the
physical and chemical properties. They will construct 3D models of every atom and try to
understand the nature of the molecule. Next they will conduct several trials called as in vitro which
means, outside body. They take several cell lines (cells grown in small tubes-ex. kidney cells of
a pig can be grown.PK-15) and subject the cell line to the antibiotic. They look for the expression
of the protein, mRNA etc. There are several factors which are necessary to look for. They also do test
the antibiotic on various species of bacteria and look for the sensitivity under various concentrations.
Once conclusive results about the actions of the molecule is derived, it goes in for test in lab animals like
mice, rats, rabbits, hamsters etc. When it is proven safe from that side, then it needs to be approved by
the FDA. Then it goes in for trials in sick voluntary human subjects. These people are usually belong
to the group of extreme suffers from a disease, prisoners etc. Once it clears their, the drug comes into
large scale production and is available for the market. So all these trials do not take place overnight,
each stage requires years of experiments. Generally for a drug to reach the market it might take upto
5-7 years depending upon the demand.
            Ooopss!!the title-artificial human is different from what I have been saying so far. But the amount
of time involved is the same.
             It is possible to replace around 25 parts in our body with artificial means. One of the main organ
which is a big pain to the scientists is the HEART. It is really difficult to replace a human heart with some other
individuals, or animal. Imagine a human heart beats about 100,000 times in one day and about 35 million
times in a year. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times. Your body
has about 5.6 liters (6 quarts) of blood. This 5.6 liters of blood circulates through the body three times
every minute. In one day, the blood travels a total of 19,000 km (12,000 miles)--that's four times the distance
across the US from coast to coast.
             Even if the a different heart seem to function well in a individual, the immune system is there to reject it.
It recognizes the different cells from the artificial heart as an alien and tries to reject it.
             Some of the big time scientists who should be remembered of when we talk about heart are
O. H. Frazier and Jarvik. These guys have revolutionized the heart transplantation surgeries.
     For more info, on this please do visit this site PBS
     For more info, on artificial human- go here