X-Message-Number: 14341
Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2000 08:50:05 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: freeze-preventing substances

Hi everyone!

Some comments about organic cryoprotectants made by living things:
while I have no doubt that they work, and the work done by people
with 21st Century Medicine (like Brian Wowk) strongly suggests that
they are helpful, the real issue for us is whether we can get enough 
such chemicals at a good price. 

Presently that isn't true, and so far the COST of such cryoprotectants
seems to have been ignored by those on Cryonet who describe them. Not
only that, but 21st Century Medicine has found much simpler substances
which have the same effects. (No, this may not always be true, but
as for now it is). I believe their work is very important and deserves
attention (and have given it in PERIASTRON, when they publish a paper).

The best activity now is not to come up with this or that organic
substance used by an animal or plant to help it resist the damage of
freezing, but to study all of these substances with the idea of finding
one which works better than any other. Currently polymer vinyl alcohols
do the same job at less expense. A biochemical which did better would
be quite interesting indeed. And if that biochemical led to finding
something simpler with the same effect, such a discovery should be
thought of as an essential step on the stairway, not as useless...
even if we never use it directly. 

			Best wishes and long long life to all,

				Thomas Donaldson

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