Scientists Make Artificial Protein Mimic Blood

Al writes "Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have created a protein that can carry and deliver oxygen — a useful step towards developing artificial blood. This would avoid the problems involved with donor blood — contamination, limited storage, and short supply — and lead to easier and faster blood transfusions on the battlefield and in trauma cases. The Penn researchers used three amino acids to make a four-helix columned protein structure put a smaller structure, called a heme, inside it. The heme is a large flat molecule that has an iron atom at its center, which oxygen binds to. The researchers also made the protein structure flexible, so that it can open to receive the oxygen and close again without letting any water in. They did this by linking together the helical columns with loops to restrict their motions, giving the final structure a candelabra shape."

Comments

Finally

[kandela]

... Vampires and Humans can live together in peace.

Re:Finally

[Bieeanda]

Pff. They are like, so late.

Yet another step to cyborg technology.

[TestedDoughnut]

I, for one, welcome the advent of artificial blood. It is my hope that when the robotic overlords take over that they will see me as their brethren, and not as an outdated human. Pumping myself full of artificial blood brings me one step closer to that goal.

That thing gota heme?

[Anonymous Coward]

That thing gota heme?

Re:Various Questions

[Red Flayer]

if they qualify under  50.24 Exception from informed consent requirements for emergency research, The probably.

That's an awesome way to say 'yes'. I think I'm going to use it from now on.

Wife: Did you take the trash out yet?
Me: The probably.

Daughter: Daddy can I have a cookie?
Me: The probably.

Wife: Do you want to have another baby?
Me: The probably.

At the very least, it will buy me some time while they are confused, which will allow me to either think of a better answer, or escape to another location.