X-Message-Number: 1033 Date: 21 Jul 92 13:26:58 EDT From: Andrew Davidson <> Subject: cryonics: #1026 - #1031 I recall reading an SF story in Analog or IASFM which used the idea of adding checksums to DNA as the basis for immortality. No Nobel prize for Peter Merel, I'm afraid. This reminds me of an interesting theory of aging. It seems that when DNA reproduces, the ends of the spiral tend to fray and the string becomes shorter. Dummy bases are used to pad out the string, protecting the significant part from loss. As cells reproduce this protective buffer gets eaten away and when the significant part starts fraying you get aging effects. This would explain why the descent into old age takes place after a period of apparent stability. There were some problems with this theory but I don't recall the details. Andy Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1033