Is It Possible To Make Artificial Blood And Why Would We Want To?

Scientists are on the brink of understanding how to "grow" blood. Thi could mean an end to using donors and could mean no more shortages of human blood. Donated blood is currently used to save the lives of people injured in accidents or who have to have major surgery. The National Blood Service in Britain processes 2.5 million blood donations every year, and this still is not enough to meet demand.
In a study reported a couple of years ago, scientists showed that they could use stem cells from unused IVF embryos to create blood of all the main types. Batches take about three weeks to be ready and the blood can be made to order in any amounts.
Using embryonic stem cells is ethically controversial but if they were used to make red blood cells, this would guarantee that the blood used for transfusions was free of any viruses. Technically, it has never been a the body of another human being, so could not have become contaminated in this way.

Scientists hope that large quantities of blood can be created. This could be kept in a central store and given to organizations such as the Red Cross.

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