X-Message-Number: 9898 Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 10:20:26 -0400 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: CryoNet #9891 - #9896 Hi again! To Dr. Corlett: For various reasons Mr Skrecky's suggestions have generally been looked at years ago and found wanting... not just by cryonicists but by cryobiologists in general. If you want to learn what can be done, I suggest you go first to your library (if it takes ANY cryobiology journal --- unfortunately libraries all over have been cutting costs a lot, to the detriment of their collections). Then start reading. Alternatively, you might go to your university library and look for books under that heading. Presently I myself feel handicapped in discussing this subject in the detail it merits because most of my own library is sittin on a boat somewhere. One name you might look at is Audrey Smith --- and get the materials which Alcor provides, too. (Yes, these references aim to prove a point, but that does not make them false --- they were done by peple who were not cryonicists and in some cases have argued against it). Basically, unless we use some additional chemical method (and probably not even then) a lot of these suggestions deal with temperatures which are too warm for long term preservation. Some have seriously suggested that we look at modifications of embalming as means to preserve better structure and information. I have no problem with this except for one major one: those who make such suggestions have so far not lifted a finger to develop such modifications, nor have they examined embalmed tissue to see how well its structure, not only physical structure but also chemical structure, can still be inferred. That is, we want to preserve our memories and not just our DNA: this means that we want to look very closely at synapses and fine connections between our neurons. I'd expect, of course, that a chemical method might take much longer for us to work out means to reverse it, but there's lots of time. And I'd add that the patient would still have to be frozen to LN temperature or something like it --- otherwise chemical deterioration would continue. Ideally someone who is more on top of current methods should comment here. Hint hint hint. Best and long long life, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=9898