We’ve heard before that science and True Blood are not far apart since we know that there is a synthetic blood being developed by scientists throughout the world. Here’s an interesting article that provides an update on the progress being made to produce it.
Isn’t it curious that this new information is from Essex University and Stephen Moyer, our own Bill Compton, is an Essex boy. While we’re not sure that True Blood or Stephen Moyer has been instrumental in hastening the development, its comforting to think that the synthetic blood as it exists, both in the books and in the series, could become a reality and help society.
Professor Chris Cooper
Essex University experts have moved a step closer to creating claret to use in operations.
Scientists at the Wivenhoe-based university have employed similar technology used to make fake blood drunk by vampires in hit TV shows, such as Channel 4’s True Blood.
But, in real life, the quest to develop an alternative for use in transfusions remains the holy grail for chemists, with more than £1billion spent on research in the past 20 years.
Now Essex University boffins have submitted a worldwide patent for an engineered version of one of blood’s main ingredients – hemoglobin.
They have developed an artificial form of the molecule, which is found inside blood cells and carries oxygen around the body.
Hemoglobin can be toxic if it gets outside cells – and previous attempts to manufacture blood have failed because the versions of it produced were potentially harmful.
The Essex University scientists’ hemoglobin could solve the problem as it is less toxic.
Professor Chris Cooper said: “Basically, hemoglobin produces free radicals that can damage the heart and kidneys.
“The trick with artificial blood is to modify the molecule to be less toxic, but still perform the vital role of carrying oxygen around the body. No one has managed this yet.”
The researchers hope their discovery will one day be used in the development of a blood substitute, which could be used in hospitals.
More than 75million units of donated blood are given to people worldwide each year, but medics face a constant struggle to keep up supplies.
A substitute would have a much longer shelf-life, could be stored away from hospitals, and could be given to any patient regardless of their blood type.
It would also avoid blood being contaminated by viruses.
Everybody who has ever seen an episode of The Vampire Diaries cannot deny that there are similarities with our True Blood. Kevin Williamson, executive producer of The Vampire Diaries, admits to SFX that he indeed feels the “under pressure” from True Blood. He is not worried about the show being compared to Buffy, but to Twilight and Blood.
Several True Blood fans have expressed the idea on this website that Adam Lambert would be perfect for a guest appearance on True Blood. In fact he would fit right in in a Fangtasia Fangbangers Ball and apparently Adam thinks so too.
4. Jessica Hamby (Deborah Ann Woll) on True Blood . She’s the most perfectly realized teenage character on TV. Made a vampire by Bill Compton, she both loves and loathes her new state. Swears a blue streak when annoyed. Alternately flirty and vicious with boys. On being told she was now a vampire, declared, “I can kill anybody I want, and there’s an awful lot of people I’d like to kill.”
