> No. Although a person in a vegetative state is not considered to be conscious, the neurons in their brain are still firing and are capable of regulating sleep

> No. Although a person in a vegetative state is not considered to be conscious, the neurons in their brain are still firing and are capable of regulating sleep–wake cycles and heart and lung function, among other processes. The pig brains in the latest study carried out metabolic functions — such as those cells use to produce energy and remove waste — but their neurons didn’t fire unless researchers stimulated them individually. In this case, while it does touch the question of supporting cells in vitro (BTW: how long does other cell live after an organism stop breathing? can one revive it in the same way), I don't see how does it even remotely touch the topic of consciousness (or give raise to any ethical dilemmas).