X-Message-Number: 3346
From:  (David Stodolsky)
Subject: CRYONICS: Re: Brain scanning, reply to David Stodolsky
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 94 20:59:07 +0100 (MET)

In Message: #3317 - Brain scanning, reply to David Stodolsky
Brian Wowk <> writes:
> Date: Fri, 21 Oct 94 11:53:42 CDT
> Message-Subject: CRYONICS Brain scanning, reply to David Stodolsky
[snip]
> "Large Scale Analysis..." monograph was essentially a feasibility
> study of a human genome project-style billion-dollar mega-project 
> to download (upload?) the connectivity information of a *single brain* 
> into a computer.  The resulting data (10^15 bits) would be enough
> to keep neuroscientists busy for the next century.  
>  
>         I agree that Ralph's proposed project is very important for 
> neuroscience.  But it is absurd to compare this project to cryonics
> as a life-saving measure!  If you want to save lives, forget 6 billion 
> dollars over 20 years.  Give me 6 *million* dollars, and in five years 
> I'll give you perfected brain cryopreservation.  You are then free to
> spend the next hundred years, if you want, figuring out how to read
> that brain into a computer.
>  


I enjoy seeing a logical mind at work. The assumption here is that
if something can be done with $6 million, nobody would spend $6 billion
to accomplish the same objective. This ignores the unfortunate political
realities of the day.

Much of the funding for early work on low temperature suspension came
from NASA. They spent that money in anticipation of the day that people
would be sent to the stars (or at least the outer planets). What chance
you think there would have been to get that money, if it was not part
of multi-billion dollar political extravaganza (the moon shot)?


Now your examination ;-)

The Human Genome project was started because:

a) it is a way to advance fundamental knowledge and could improve
the lives and health of millions of people in the future.

b) a sudden halt in the production of nuclear weapons created a 
$6 billion funding "over run" at the U. S. Dept. of Energy
(if agencies don't use the money they are given in one year, 
then they don't get the same amount of money the next year).
A quick calculation shows that mapping the 6 billion base pairs of
the human genome at $1 per pair = $6 Billion.


Choose one of the above.




David S. Stodolsky, PhD               Internet: 
Peder Lykkes Vej 8, 4. tv.      (C)         Tel.: + 45 32 97 66 74
DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark                Fax: + 45 32 84 08 28

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=3346