X-Message-Number: 3515
From:  (Keith F. Lynch)
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
Subject: Re: Frozen animals and gene transference
Date: 19 Dec 1994 22:54:18 -0500
Message-ID: <3d5kha$>
References: <> <3d0r50$>

In article <3d0r50$>,
Paul Mason <> wrote:
> If the goal is to preserve DNA for creating a clone in the future,
> what is the advantage of cryonics over freeze-drying tissue samples?

That is not the goal.  The goal is to remain oneself, with one's
original personality, memories, etc.  It is believed that identity is
encoded in the brain, and that if a brain is frozen shortly after death,
that the structure is still intact or at least inferrable and repairable
by a more advanced technology.  See the nine-part FAQ which Tim Freeman
posts here monthly.

> Freeze drying has the huge advantage of not being susceptible to
> power outages ...

All the cryonics organizations use liquid nitrogen, not electric
freezers.  And they keep a several week supply on hand, and are local
to several suppliers.

> But does anyone have knowlege of the relative risks to the DNA in
> cryonics versus freeze-drying?

I'm sure either technique will preserve the DNA, if that's all you want
to do.  But the goal of cryonics is not simply to have an identical
twin of yours born after your death.  He wouldn't have your personality
or memories.

> By the way, intra-cellular magnesium deficiency apparently affects
> more than 75% of the population, and may affect cryonics. ...

Yes, by now everyone on the net is aware of your belief that that
ubiquitous mineral is the most important substance in the world, and
that people lived for centuries in biblical days because they ate foods
that were high in that alkali earth element.  What does that have to do
with cryonics?
-- 
Keith Lynch, 

f p=2,3:2 s q=1 x "f f=3:2 q:f*f>p!'q  s q=p#f" w:q p,?$x\8+1*8

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