X-Message-Number: 2112
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 93 10:38:09 PDT
From: 
Subject: CRYONICS Re: Rainforest Species Editorial


Paul Wakfer writes:

> I don't think these ideas of saving
> species by freezing them which have been widely publicized for some time
> now, are of any great benefit for cryonics.

I disagree.  Sure, the first step along these lines are to simply save their
DNA.  That's the perfectly reasonable thing to do with the limited resources
available.  (Notice by the way that side effects from even this effort may
contribute breakthroughs that many cryonisists hope for in order to be able
to clone new bodies or body parts.)  The important thing to notice is that
many scientists are becoming very concerned that simply preserving a species
does not mean that it can be reintroduced successfuly into the wild.  Many
captive breeding programs are failing because the reintroduced animals lack
the knowledge and experience needed to survive.  If the captured animals
could be frozen and then reintroduced much later when suitable environments
have been prepared, those species would have a much better chance of survival.

I think that this realization will happen very naturally as a result of these
attempts to preserve species even though the initial efforts will be to only
preserve their DNA, and that the consequences of that realization will be
very positive for cryonics.

- Daniel Green
  

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