Scientist bids to build a 'superhuman'

Ananova ^ | 9-24-2002 | Ananova

[grimalkin]

A scientist today told of his quest to create a "superhuman" being - reconstructed from the body of a terminally ill person.

German-born Professor Gunter von Hagens from the Institute for Plastination plans to document the whole process - from finding a volunteer to carrying out their posthumous reconstruction - for television.

The body - preserved in polymer - will then be saved for future generations.

Prof von Hagens said evolution was "flawed".

He claimed the ideal human being would have features such as a knee joint that could also bend backwards, no appendix and a second heart in case the first one packed up.

Other changes may include increasing the number of ribs, improving the eyes and ears and rearranging the trachea and oesophagus to prevent choking.

"I call him the superhuman," said Prof von Hagens, who created the Body Worlds exhibition using human body parts.

He dismissed concerns that he was playing God, saying doctors already changed people's anatomy all the time - from plastic surgeons to dentists.

Story filed: 19:54 Tuesday 24th September 2002

[Frohickey]

He didn't mention a foot long penis that never gets flaccid.

[ikka]

Why do you think the guy is giving the model 2 hearts to pump blood with?

[mhking]

We can rebuild him...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

He didn't mention a foot long penis that never gets flaccid.

Bill Clinton already has one of those.

[egarvue]

"A brain, Igor, all I need now is a brain... then it'll be ALIVE!!! Bwahahahahaha!!!"

[widgysoft]

"I call him frankenstein," said Prof von Hagens

[lizma]

"And he would have...an enormous Schwanztucken!!"

[boris]

Institute for Plastination?

Uh huh.

Sounds like he is actually constucting a super-corpse.

[MadIvan]

I think this is the same fellow who came up with this sickening and grotesque display:

Bodyworlds.Com

Regards, Ivan

[Grut]

Sounds like he is actually constucting a super-corpse.

To a materialist, the difference between living things and dead things is that living things are more cleverly dead.

[RipSawyer]

He didn't mention a foot long penis that never gets flaccid.

Bill Clinton already has one of those.


That ain't what I heard!

[LRS]

I'm jealous already. This guy will never lose the remote!

[Rockiesrider]

Well what ever you do, DON'T put him on Setti-Alpha 6!!!

[eshu]

Bodyworlds.Com

COOL!!!!!!!!! How did you find this?

[MadIvan]

It's on exhibit here in London. You do realise it is constructed out of real human bodies. It's not models. And that is precisely why it is horrifying.

Regards, Ivan

[gcruse]

He didn't mention a foot long
penis that never gets flaccid.

It gets flaccid?

[Happygal]

You do realise it is constructed out of real human bodies

Icky. Icky. Ooh! Oh! ~think happy thoughts...think happy thoughts~

[MadIvan]

Icky. Icky. Ooh! Oh! ~think happy thoughts...think happy thoughts~

Yes, close your eyes and think of Mr. Tickle. ;)

Reference to Kevin Spacey film set in Ireland - those who don't know it, never mind

Regards, Ivan

[nravoter]

Gee, who woulda thunk it would be a German scientist that tried something like this?

Well, no one who speaks German could be an evil man.

Parole officer in The Simpsons, referring to Sideshow Bob.