In addition to being delicious and incredibly versatile (They're bacon! They're pepperoni! They're hot dogs! They're footballs!), pigs might help us in even more astounding ways. Check this out:

U.S. soldier 're-grows leg' after pioneering injection of pig bladder hormone

A U.S.soldier who had most of his leg muscle blown off in Afghanistan has become the first to see it grow back in a pioneering experimental operation.

Marine Isaias Hernandez lost 70 per cent of his right thigh muscles when an enemy mortar exploded as he tried to carry out repairs to a truck in Afghanistan.

With such severe muscle damage Hernandez would ordinarily have had his leg amputated.

But a re-think in the way soldiers are treated led to the wounded warrior being injected with a growth promoting substance extracted from pig bladders.

The revolutionary treatment gives hope to the hundreds of maimed veterans returning from conflicts with severe limb trauma.

Stephen Badylak, the tissue engineering director at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh said: 'It was a remarkable recovery.'

Since the experimental growth hormone was used, Hernandez has regained most of the strength in his right thigh.

The wounded Marine's recovery is particularly exciting for scientists as it involves the regeneration of skeletal muscle which ordinarily does not grow back.

The new treatment could in theory revolutionise how not just how soldiers are treated, but all potential amputees.

In preparation for the operation, corporal Hernandez was made to build up the remaining 30 per cent of muscle left on the damaged thigh.

Surgeons then sliced into the thigh, placing a thin slice of a substance called extracellular matrix.

The surgery is the result of a $70 million investment by the U.S. military into regenerative medicine research.

Efan said:

Surgeons then sliced into the thigh, placing a thin slice of a substance called extracellular matrix.

glad he grew his leg back though.

and they r yummy 2

Pigs will only be used for the next couple of years. The next step will be to synthetically manufacture it in quantity.

But once we do that, should it be a state secret because of the advantage it give us or are we obligated to share it with the world even though it was developed by the military, for the military?

I think everybody should have access to info on how to do this. I think it's wrong to keep it a state secret.

SUPRMAN said:

Pigs will only be used for the next couple of years. The next step will be to synthetically manufacture it in quantity.

But once we do that, should it be a state secret because of the advantage it give us or are we obligated to share it with the world even though it was developed by the military, for the military?

sharing is caring

sweething said:

SUPRMAN said:

Pigs will only be used for the next couple of years. The next step will be to synthetically manufacture it in quantity.

But once we do that, should it be a state secret because of the advantage it give us or are we obligated to share it with the world even though it was developed by the military, for the military?

sharing is caring

But civilians could be seen at specific military sites to control access to the technology but still treat non-mlitary patients.

We could share the treatment but not the technology.

Or the military could spin off the technology into a private firm and just suck up the money.

SUPRMAN said:

Or the military could spin off the technology into a private firm and just suck up the money.

i did think about this ^ but really didn't want to go there--but they could.

i do believe that medicine is one of those areas where knowledge should be shared to benefit mankind rather than pockets.

sweething said:

SUPRMAN said:

Or the military could spin off the technology into a private firm and just suck up the money.

i did think about this ^ but really didn't want to go there--but they could.

i do believe that medicine is one of those areas where knowledge should be shared to benefit mankind rather than pockets.

Someone has to pay for all this medical technology though.

Man this shit is gonna make me rethink my stance on cannibalism...

(But seriously, glad to hear it worked out for dude.)

FauxReal said:

Man this shit is gonna make me rethink my stance on cannibalism...

(But seriously, glad to hear it worked out for dude.)

SUPRMAN said:

sweething said:

sharing is caring

But civilians could be seen at specific military sites to control access to the technology but still treat non-mlitary patients.

We could share the treatment but not the technology.

I'd like to see us share it. This is a humanitarian issue--it could benefit all of mankind.

Why Heaven Hates Ham!

My favourite chapter from any book!

So not where I thought this thread was going.

Sorely disappointed in you, Efan.

Pigs= the most disgusting creatures on earth. Anything that eats it's own puke and feaces is worthless. Yuck!

Pr1nceQuik said:

Pigs= the most disgusting creatures on earth. Anything that eats it's own puke and feaces is worthless. Yuck!

You should change your name to RayOfSunshine.

I wish I could see the before pic too. Anyway, as amazing as animals are, we are even more amazing.

johnart said:

Pr1nceQuik said:

Pigs= the most disgusting creatures on earth. Anything that eats it's own puke and feaces is worthless. Yuck!

You should change your name to RayOfSunshine.

I'll think I'll stick with my current name thank u very much.

Pr1nceQuik said:

Pigs= the most disgusting creatures on earth. Anything that eats it's own puke and feaces is worthless. Yuck!

Why on earth would they eat vomit and shit, unless they're not being FED anything else?

Pigs are naturally clean creatures. They wallow in the mud to cool off their sensitive (hairless due to domestication) skin, and they eat what they are forced to eat when they can't forage on their own.

That being said, Bacon is proof positive that God exists and loves us.

PurpleJedi said:

Pr1nceQuik said:

Pigs= the most disgusting creatures on earth. Anything that eats it's own puke and feaces is worthless. Yuck!

Why on earth would they eat vomit and shit, unless they're not being FED anything else?

Pigs are naturally clean creatures. They wallow in the mud to cool off their sensitive (hairless due to domestication) skin, and they eat what they are forced to eat when they can't forage on their own.

That being said, Bacon is proof positive that God exists and loves us.

Agreed.

I wonder if he was thinking of dogs instead of pigs.

Efan said:

PurpleJedi said:

Why on earth would they eat vomit and shit, unless they're not being FED anything else?

Pigs are naturally clean creatures. They wallow in the mud to cool off their sensitive (hairless due to domestication) skin, and they eat what they are forced to eat when they can't forage on their own.

That being said, Bacon is proof positive that God exists and loves us.

Agreed.

I wonder if he was thinking of dogs instead of pigs.

...don't go there...I'm a dog lover!

PurpleJedi said:

Efan said:

Agreed.

I wonder if he was thinking of dogs instead of pigs.

...don't go there...I'm a dog lover!

Oh, I love dogs. They're great. But let's face it...they can be gross.

PurpleJedi said:

Pr1nceQuik said:

Pigs= the most disgusting creatures on earth. Anything that eats it's own puke and feaces is worthless. Yuck!

Why on earth would they eat vomit and shit, unless they're not being FED anything else?

Pigs are naturally clean creatures. They wallow in the mud to cool off their sensitive (hairless due to domestication) skin, and they eat what they are forced to eat when they can't forage on their own.

That being said, Bacon is proof positive that God exists and loves us.

I appreciate the info, buddy. But there is just something about pigs that gross me out.

I'm an animal lover though. Dogs, cats, lions and snakes are my favorite.

This is amazing. Let's just hope THE BILL isn't super high and that he doesn't get the urge to jump into mud.

JowiiCoco said:

I wish I could see the before pic too. Anyway, as amazing as animals are, we are even more amazing.

We too are animals.

Efan said:

SUPRMAN said:

But civilians could be seen at specific military sites to control access to the technology but still treat non-mlitary patients.

We could share the treatment but not the technology.

I'd like to see us share it. This is a humanitarian issue--it could benefit all of mankind.

But it would also be aiding our enemies.

SUPRMAN said:

Efan said:

I'd like to see us share it. This is a humanitarian issue--it could benefit all of mankind.

But it would also be aiding our enemies.

But doesn't almost everything do that? Fax machines, internet, whatever...it can all be used for good or bad. On the other hand, the lessons of open-sourcing show that there are often more benefits to be gained from an open hand than a closed fist.

Efan said:

SUPRMAN said:

But it would also be aiding our enemies.

But doesn't almost everything do that? Fax machines, internet, whatever...it can all be used for good or bad. On the other hand, the lessons of open-sourcing show that there are often more benefits to be gained from an open hand than a closed fist.

sooner or later they will have discovered the technology on their own (the enemy).

the army could copyright the intellectual property and sell it to other governments; unfortunately in some countries those needing it would never get it.