X-Message-Number: 2456 Date: Sat, 13 Nov 1993 13:29:01 MST From: "Richard Schroeppel" <> Subject: CRYONICS Noggin; Arizona DHS Follies KQB suggested that the discovery of the noggin protein would be helpful in growing headless clones for reconnection to neuropatients. This may indeed turn out to be useful, but remember that the pituitary is responsible for growth hormone. GH isn't required for fetal development, but seems likely to be needed for an adult body. [W.F.Ganong, Review of Medical Physiology, p302 & nearby pages.] This means we will have to solve the technical problem of supplying the growing body with the correct regimen of hormones. ---------------------- Re: Steve Bridge's update on Alcor's discussions with the AZ regulator. It seems to me the guy has a (partial) point. There's no particular reason to believe that Ebola virus is inactivated by LN2. So a patient who thawed accidentally would be a real biohazard, not just a mess. In addition, we'd want to be certain that the normal process of topping up the LN2 in a dewar didn't permit escape of virus, perhaps carried on small crystals of frost. And since the LN2 boiloff must be allowed to vent, a similar concern arises. (I assume that the normal boiloff is really just evaporation, with no disturbance or stirring of the LN2; but that bubbling etc. occur during movement of the dewar, tipping, and topping off.) We might meet these concerns by (double?) sealing the patient in a plastic bag, and keeping the bag in the dewar. The dewar would have to be labeled appropriately, and perhaps padlocked. The AZ people might insist on periodic inspections. Is there any reason to expect a head to be less hazardous? Most of the other diseases listed are serious-but-usually- not-fatal, so the requirements might be relaxed somewhat. If the story in the New Yorker a couple of years ago is accurate, there won't be much left to freeze anyway from an Ebola victim. Anyone actually doing such a suspension would definitely deserve hazard pay. I assume that Alcor already has procedures in place for hazardous biowaste? Is anything special required for Ebola materials? Do you have suitable procedures for sterilizing dewars for reuse or disposal? Will they also get prions? Rich Schroeppel Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=2456