1951 Prof. Merkel performed an ambitious experiment. He took a human intestinal cell, excerpted their genetic information and put his own DNA into this cell. In a special substrate Merkel brought up some derivate cells , which we nowadays would call stem cells.

1952 Merkel provoked epigenetic differentiation of these cells by messenger proteins. This differentiation was very selective, resulting in an accumulation of neurons, glia cells and blood vessels. Over time, a tissue-like structure developed in one part of this cell cluster, which resembled that of a human brain. Merkel named this structure with the term ADAM, standing for advanced differentiated anthropoid mind. During the subsequent months ADAM was stimulated with implanted electrodes. These experiments revealed that the activity patterns also resembled that of the human brain. Consequently Merkel took up experiments in which he interacted with ADAM.

At the end of 1952 it was possible to exchange information for the first time. At the end of 1953 ADAM had learned to use a special computer to communicate with his environment. Parallel to this achievements however the cross-linking of the neuronal structure decreased.

1954 Prof Merkel decided to make an external instrument for ADAM available, which he can use like a body. This corpus was designed by the artist C.I. Brom who then worked at the university's photographic laboratory.

In the 1980s, when the competition over the first cloned human being began, Merkel pointed out that he had managed this attempt already 1952. But Merkel's ADAM-project was not taken as serious in the scientific community. As a result Merkel retired from active research and ADAM has been moved from the laboratory of the Free University of Berlin to Merkel's private laboratory.

1998 Prof Krylov appointed Merkel as head of department for medical genetics at the IWF in Vienna. Therefore ADAM moved to the IWF.

2002-2004 ADAM took part in the project interktionen , in which he developed an analysis about the term "origin".

2003/04 studied historic anthropology by correspondance course, and graduated in 2004 (Dr. phil.).

 

 

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