X-Message-Number: 16944 Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 08:04:32 -0700 Subject: Re: Cryo-Surgery From: Ivan Snyder <> >>If body parts frozen to cryogenic temperatures can be thawed and transplanted, why is there a problem with thawing an entire body? Joseph W. Morgan Hi Joe and all, No problem in thawing really. It's the freezing part that's tricky. Ice crystals rupture cell membranes. Alot of cold blooded creatures which go through seasonal freezing in nature have adapted to get around this by producing natural cryoprotectants such as glycerol, which by the way is one chemical also used in cryonics. The reason cold blooded creatures cryosuspend more easily is that they are able to withstand greater dehydration, which is part of cryoprotection. Also, they have better inherent regenerative ability than us. But we are getting there. Ivan Snyder Hermosa Beach California ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=16944