Science Friday The Science Of Replacing Body Parts, From Hair To Hearts
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Oct 15, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, science writer Mary Roach, author of Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy, delves into the fascinating world of body part replacement. She shares her self-experimentation with hair transplants and raises thought-provoking questions about cultural biases toward limb amputation. Roach also highlights surprising medical advancements, like using colon for vaginoplasty and the complexities of 3D-printed organs. Through her insights, she explores the challenges of replicating our complex anatomy and the ongoing importance of human donors.
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Donor Dominance Explains Hair Transplants
- Donor dominance means transplanted hair retains the characteristics of its original site, so resistant follicles stay permanent after relocation.
- Hair transplants work because follicles keep their original identity even when moved to balding areas.
Author's Hair-Donation Experiment
- Mary Roach volunteered follicles at a Southern California clinic and asked them to plant a few in her calf to demonstrate donor dominance on tour.
- The leg grafts didn't take, but she ended up with a small bald spot from donating a dozen follicles.
Patient Seeks Elective Amputation
- Judy, a reader, pursued an elective amputation after years of failed surgeries for a twisted foot caused by spina bifida.
- Surgeons resisted because the foot was healthy and amputation felt final, so it took years for Judy to find someone to operate.
