Skip to main content

Can you transplant a head to another body? - Max G. Levy

553,460 Views

1,035 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

In 1970, neurosurgeon Robert White and his team carted two monkeys into an operating room to conduct an ambitious experiment. The objective was to connect the head of Monkey A to the body of Monkey B, in what he considered a whole-body transplant, with the ultimate goal of one day performing this surgery on humans. Is such a feat even medically possible? And is it ethical? Max G. Levy investigates

What was Robert White’s ultimate goal with the surgery, according to interviews?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Max G. Levy
  • Director Anton Bogaty
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Composer Greg Chudzik, Cem Misirlioglu
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Produced by Gerta Xhelo, Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell
  • Fact-Checker Charles Wallace

More from Getting Under Our Skin