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Scientists restore blood flow and cell function throughout bodies of dead pigs

Scientists announced Wednesday they have restored blood flow and cell function throughout the bodies of pigs that were dead for an hour, in a breakthrough experts say could mean we need to update the definition of death itself.

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For the latest research, published in the journal Nature, the team sought to expand this technique to the entire body. They induced a heart attack in the anaesthetised pigs, which stopped blood flowing through the bodies. This deprives the body's cells of oxygen -- and without oxygen, cells in mammals die. The pigs then sat dead for an hour.