Abraham Trembley's Polyp Experiment
In 1741, Abraham Trembley used a common pond plant called a polyp to conduct transplant experiments (Hamilton, 2012, pp. 31-33). Trembley had taken these plants and cut pieces off one and sew them onto another. He found that once sewn together, the two different plants would start to grow as if they were one. As he continued, he theorized that rather than transplanting human limbs, doctors should try to help patients regenerate their damaged limbs. This theory was quickly dismissed as a colleague pointed out that the plants would regenerate themselves no matter what and the same would not be for humans. Still, Trembley hoped that one day humans could transplants parts and survive, like the polyps.