Why Is Fake Blood so Hard to Make?

The video discusses the challenges and advancements in developing artificial blood substitutes. It highlights the importance of blood for oxygen transport and the limitations of current blood supplies. Three main approaches to creating blood substitutes are explored: perfluorocarbons, hemoglobin-based solutions, and stem cell technology. Each method has its own set of challenges, including safety concerns and manufacturing difficulties. The video concludes with a hopeful outlook on the future of blood substitutes, emphasizing the need for continued research and collaboration.

Why is there a significant motivation to develop blood substitutes?

• Because fake blood is not realistic enough for movies.

• To eliminate the need for blood donations.

• Due to the limited supply and perishability of donated blood.

• To reduce the cost of blood transfusions.

What is a major challenge with using perfluorocarbons as blood substitutes?

• They do not mix well with the bloodstream.

• They are too expensive to produce.

• They cause immediate allergic reactions.

• They cannot be stored for long periods.

What is a potential advantage of using hemoglobin-based substitutes?

• They are easy to produce in large quantities.

• They do not require refrigeration.

• They are already approved for human use.

• They eliminate blood type compatibility issues.

How are stem cells used in the development of blood substitutes?

• They are modified to mimic hemoglobin.

• They are used to create real red blood cells.

• They are directly injected into patients.

• They are combined with perfluorocarbons.

What is the primary goal of using stem cell technology in blood substitutes?

• To create a universal blood type.

• To produce large quantities of blood for all patients.

• To tailor blood for patients with rare blood types.

• To replace all traditional blood transfusions.