X-Message-Number: 5623
Date:  Thu, 18 Jan 96 10:19:12 
From: dave <>
Subject: neuro vs WB

reply to recent neuro vs whole-body postings

The debate on neuro vs whole-body has been going on since the beginning of 
cryonics.

There now is a new reason to consider whole-body.

Alcor's biochemist, Hugh Hixon has recently learned new information about 
cracking and how to avoid some, maybe a lot of it.  We have reported on this 
before, but Hugh, and others, don't want to disclose any more on this until 
we are sure of the results.  In addition, there may be some noncryonics
value to this for Hugh and Alcor.  

I want to restate that we are not positive we have eliminated or 
reduced cracking as we can't completely test.  Other cryonics 
companies  are also working in this direction.

Bob Ettinger  recently commissioned some work on sheep brains that 
looked like they were minimizing cracking.

In addition, there are some reports that scientists in South Africa and 
other places are reducing cracking in organ freezing.

A lot of this is speculation.  But speculation can sometimes help us 
predict what is coming.

The bottom line is that cryonics companies may soon be able to freeze 
persons without any cracking.  When that happens there will be a strong
motivation to opt for whole body as it may be easier and sooner to
unfreeze and restore a whole body patient than to unfreeze and restore a 
neuro and then try to grow a new body and do the hook up.

Dave


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