X-Message-Number: 28686 Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 15:06:25 -0500 (EST) From: Charles Platt <> Subject: Dying Cells References: <> > Message #28683 > From: "JOSEPH W MORGAN" <> > Subject: Brain Cell Death due to Oxygen Deprivation > Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:36:38 -0700 > > Yesterday I was discussing cryonics with a skeptic. He > pointed out that brain cells are extremely sensitive to > oxygen deprivation. Some brain cells actually start dying > just under five minutes after their oxygen supply is cut. > As a result, oxygen deprivation can cause severe brain > damage rapidly. He asserted that minutes after death the > brain is irreparably damaged and therefore cryonics cannot > work. Please mention to your friend that hospital patients have been revived successfully after hypothermic surgery in which cardiac arrest may last as long as one hour. You can search for this topic on the Alcor web site, which also contains many other references to cell death, a topic that is naturally of great interest to cryonicists. You may also consider the difference between biochemical damage to cells, and structural damage to the brain. If the structure is still there, is the person still "there"? This leads directly to the criterion of "information theoretic death," a topic that is dear to the heart of Ralph Merkle among many others. You can search for him online too. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=28686