X-Message-Number: 24525
From: 
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 08:28:46 EDT
Subject: Re: CryoNet #24507 Nano scan

T. Donaldson said:

> 
> Even a molecular scale map of our brain, if we get it, won't help us
> rescue anyone.

I disagree, A molecular map of a frozen brain is the first step in looking 
where to send any micro or nano repair device.

>   One thing freezing is likely to do is to
> tear the connections between nerves. I am talking here about
> structures which are 1000 times the nano size. 

True, but there may be too some chemical reaction between products coming 

from broken elements. Osmotic drying produced by freezing may destroy the 
protein 
shape. So there may be some molecular level problems



 We still have to know what goes with what.> 
> One problem here comes from the fact that each piece is unlikely
> to distinguish itself so much that there will be only one candidate
> to which it will fit: EVERYTHING we can learn about the jigsaw
> puzzle will become important.

Yes, and a molecular map may be useful for that.



> Fundamentally, the injury due to freezing does not occur on a 
> nanometer scale. It is not CHEMICAL injury but more like 
> mechanical injury on a micrometer scale. And because our memories
> differ, knowing in general what a healthy brain looks like won't
> tell us much about how to put together a broken one.

See above about protein denaturation. There is a chemical level problem. The 
information I pointed out in the first place was about MRI at molecular level 
in a solid. This is not for a living brain or organ, it is a technology for 
frozen biological elements.

> 
> In any case, if we can vitrify rather than freeze our brains, all that
> mechanical injury due to freezing simply won't exist, and we won't
> need either the computer or the devices to tell us what the pieces 
> are and where they lie. Vitrification avoids this problem entirely.

I hope...But I think most preservations will be done in sub optimal cases, so 
there will be some molecular level damages...

Yvan Bozzonetti.


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