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Title: Liver organ in Human anatomy. Post by: prashantakerkar on Nov 7, 2022 What could be the biological reasons that humans are born with one liver and not two liver organs as compared to two kidneys or two lungs?
Will you call it as a birth defect if a child is born with two livers? Can this be a rare or impossible case in medical science? Thanks & Regards, Prashant S Akerkar Title: Re: Liver organ in Human anatomy. Post by: bio_man on Nov 7, 2022 Questions like these are very difficult to answer, but here's what I think.
The liver has several vital functions in the human body. Due to its complexity and importance, it requires a lot of energy to function. By limiting the body to one liver, the body conserves energy. Furthermore, the liver is already quite large, and has the capability of regenerating itself when damaged. Unlike the kidney, the liver has a repair mechanism, so when it is damaged, it can be repaired. This is not true for the kidneys. Unlike the liver, the kidneys are considerably smaller, and so two optimizes their overall function. But if you notice, the liver also has two lobes. Title: Re: Liver organ in Human anatomy. Post by: prashantakerkar on Nov 7, 2022 Thanks.
Will you call it as a birth defect if a child is born with two livers? Can this be considered a rare or impossible case in medical science? Prashant S Akerkar Title: Re: Liver organ in Human anatomy. Post by: bio_man on Nov 8, 2022 Will you call it as a birth defect if a child is born with two livers? Definitely a birth defect. Chances are the second liver is not functional, and the child suffers from too many complications to survive. Title: Re: Liver organ in Human anatomy. Post by: prashantakerkar on Nov 8, 2022 Thanks.
If a child is born with liver > 1 then this will lead to study of Genetics. Genes - Chromosomes ... Isn' it? Prashant S Akerkar Title: Re: Liver organ in Human anatomy. Post by: bio_man on Nov 8, 2022 Content hidden
Title: Re: Liver organ in Human anatomy. Post by: prashantakerkar on Nov 8, 2022 Thanks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(genetics) Do you feel Chimerism (genetics) has led to extra liver/s in the new born babies (If the medical case/s) exists? Prashant S Akerkar Title: Re: Liver organ in Human anatomy. Post by: bio_man on Nov 9, 2022 Not sure I understand what you mean? Genetic chimerism is when an organism is made up of cells that have at least two different genomes (i.e. the DNA in some cells is different to the DNA in others). If someone were born with two livers, I have no idea how their internal cavity could accommodate the space for two organs. Hence, chances are the fetus would be aborted spontaneously well before child birth.
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