X-Message-Number: 4763
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 1995 04:56:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: reply to messages #4730,4732 & 4742

In message #4730 
Yvan Bozzonetti suggested that chemical means of
preservation might be a cost effective alternative to cryonics for
uploading.  However I would like to urge a caution about advocating the
use of thyme extract as a preservative. There exists a large amount of
information on the effects of established or proven chemical fixatives.
Before thyme extract could be used with equal confidence it would have to
accumulate a comparible database. This would cost a lot of money, thus
negating one of the main advantages of chemical preservation.  

In message #4732 
Eugen Leitl typed "Glycerol functions as a cryoprotectant, as a
super-cooling agent, and has been shown to aid in desiccation resistance
in cysts of Artemia (Clegg, 1962)". I would like to mention that
up-to-date research on anhydrobiosis indicates that it is nonreducing
sugars such as trehalose or sucrose that confer desiccation resistance,
not glycerol. (Annu.  Rev. Physiol. 54:579-599 1992) 

In message #4742
Joseph Strout suggested that the combination of fixation and freezing
could reduce the risk of rotting when the LN2 supply runs out. I would
like to mention in this regard that alcohol is both an effective fixative
as well as a cryoprotectant. Replacing glycerol with alcohol would
certainly increase the reliability of cryonics over the long term. However
replacing glycerol with sucrose might be an even better substitution since
then freeze drying would become a possibility. 
EOF


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