X-Message-Number: 18154
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 09:38:38 -0500
From: Jeffrey Soreff <>
Subject: cloning as a component of body replacement

>Regarding the Bob's answer to the third question, not so fast, Bob.  It seems 
>conceivable to me if not likely that in the process of reanimation, a large 
>number of cells will have to be replaced with new cells before full integrity 
>of a living human can be achieved.  Cloning seems a possible path to that 
>end, given what we know of biological science in 2001.  I assume that this 
>will particularly be the case for those who have chosen the "neuro" route to 
>biostasis.  If they are going to grow a whole new body, cloning would seem to 
>be the only way to do it.  This, of course, creates enormous ethical problems 
>since it suggests the development of an a-cephalic human onto which the 
>preserved heads would be grafted.  I think this is an argument for whole body 
>less controversial.  I would like to know how ALCORians respond to this 
>issue.  Ron H.

1) I don't see the development of an a-cephalic human as having any ethical
   problem (_lots_ of technical problems, of course!).  Brain-dead==dead even
   today, so an a-cephalic human body is never a person, and poses no ethical
   problems.  Political problems are another matter.  Frankly, I think the
   political faction that is trying to ban therapeutic cloning in the US is
   crazy - but they hold a lot of power, and I have no idea how this will
   change over time.

2) Cloning is one path towards replacing cells, but not the only possible
   path.  One of my hopes is that molecular precision nanotechnology advances
   enough to be able to manufacture cells from the atoms up.  This may also
   answer the question of what a non-aging body would look like:  It could
   have embedded nanomachinery that systematically replaces each (non-neural)
   cell with a freshly manufactured one at regular intervals, say 10 years
   for one sweep.  At any given point, all of the cells in one's body would
   then be less than a decade old, too short a time for much aging damage to
   accumulate.  Obviously, something special has to be done with neurons,
   since replacing them with healthy, young, known-good, but _generic_ cells
   would erase memories.
                                           Best wishes,
                                           -Jeffrey Soreff

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