X-Message-Number: 9619
Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 21:33:53 -0700
From: Tim Freeman <>
Subject: Calorie restriction vs. Cryonics

John de Rivaz quotes:
> From: "Henry R. Hirsch" <>
> Subject: Future of Cryonics
> (del) if rats could be
> revived from one month's storage in liquid nitrogen, the line to sign up
> for cryonic suspension would stretch from Ranch Cucamonga to Clinton
> Township by way of Scottsdale.

First, let me say that I agree the with the practical thrust of Saul
Kent's article, which is that we need more research.  I've sent INC a
check and will send more when Paul Wakfer tells me they need it.

However, calorie restriction provides a counterexample to the "do the
research and they will come" theory.  Here's a comparison of cryonics
and calorie restriction as life extension techniques:

Similarities:
1. Neither is popular.
2. Both hold out the hope of causing a significant life extension.
3. Both involve doing something your peers and relatives might not like.
4. I have heard people make up bizarre excuses about why both of them
   won't work on humans. 
5. Both are unnatural.
6. Neither corresponds to an easily packageable product you can sell
   in a store or by mail.

Differences:
1. Calorie restriction is difficult, since dieting is difficult.
   Cryonics is easier, in principle.  All you have to do is sign some
   papers initially and send checks regularly, and notify the
   organization when you seem to be going down.
2. Calorie restriction unquestionably works on rodents and a number of
   other species.  Lifespan experiments on primates are in the works.
   Other experiments on humans and other primates have reported
   similar biochemical changes to what happens to the rodents.  In
   contrast, the revival half of the cryonics experiment can't be done
   yet on any mammal. 

Maybe people don't think their own life is worth spending significant
money or effort on?
-- 
Tim Freeman       
            http://www.infoscreen.com/resume.html
Web-centered Java, Perl, and C++ programming in Silicon Valley or offsite

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