X-Message-Number: 9784 Date: Tue, 26 May 98 17:23:20 From: linda <> Subject: Cryopreservation and Security I found Brenda Peter's posting about cryopreservation and nanotechnology very thoughtful and thought provoking. I support the need for research (into repair technologies as well as preservation technologies). I also agree with Brenda that we have many patients in biostasis now (and, due to cultural and other difficulties, will continue to have for some extended future time) that will need molecular nanotechnology repair mechanism. Perhaps all cryopreserved patients will (always) require some amount of nanotech (that remains to be seen). One very important issue that too often gets forgotten, unfortunately (because it may turn out to be the largest single factor in determining whether any of us, high tech cryopreservations OR low tech) is the one of long term preservation. The longevity, integrity, and security of the organization that will protect you, as a frozen patient, for decades. That could, in the end very well be more important even than the technology used to preserve you. Since we are all still speculating about the real importance of ischemia on structural preservation or memory retension, those who bring us back may laugh at all of us. With 20-20 hind sight, they may tell those of us who belonged to large, strong organizations (even the Joe Cannon's) that to their (future, advanced) medical technologies the difference in the degree of difficulty (of repair and revival) between the highest of high tech cryopreservations and the most severely compromised, turns out to be insignificant. This is particularly important when we face the fact that most cryonicists today, and probably for some time to come, will not receive the highest technology that is possible. Cultural traditions, hostile relatives, and deathist laws are just a few of the obstacles that too often stand in the way of the cryotransport team's best efforts. Brenda choses CryoCare because they strive for the highest of high tech technologies. I choose Alcor because we not only strive to give our members the highest quality cryopreservation that we can (and I will let readers judge for themselves whether or not they feel Alcor's technology is really so inferior, by reading our cryopreservation reports themselves) but we also see membership growth as an important step toward building a strong, reliable organization that will give us more confidence in it's ability to keep us frozen and safe until repair technologies become available. Research into better cryopreservation methods IS important (it is just not the ONLY factor). That is why we need to develop BioTransport. So we can keep the researchers doing research, and the organization building and cryotransport delivery system building up to others. Support them both. They are both critical. Linda Chamberlain () CryoTransport Manager Alcor Life Extension Foundation Non-profit cryonic suspension services since 1972. 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916 Phone (602) 922-9013 (800) 367-2228 FAX (602) 922-9027 for general requests http://www.alcor.org Linda Chamberlain () CryoTransport Manager Alcor Life Extension Foundation Non-profit cryonic suspension services since 1972. 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916 Phone (602) 922-9013 (800) 367-2228 FAX (602) 922-9027 for general requests http://www.alcor.org Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=9784