X-Message-Number: 4278
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: freezing experiments on nonmammals
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 1995 22:09:17 -0700 (PDT)

I note that one person got onto Cryonet and asked this. There are several 
very desirable experiments which no one has done, and one which MAY be 
underway. One cryonicist is reported to be trying to freeze nematodes and 
see if their memories survive. (So far, no one I know has received further
news about these experiments. I hope that this person didn't simply abandon
them).

It's true that animals even as advanced as amphibians (salamanders or frogs)
have much higher repair abilities. Since preservation of brains is paramount,
it would be very interesting to know what the effects of cryopreservation,
with suitable cryoprotectants, might be on the brains of such animals. Since
transplantation of brain tissue isn't apparently an issue, it would not be
necessary to freeze and revive whole animals to test this.

However I personally would very much like to know the results of any 
experiments on nematodes before I tried to experiment on freezing much more
advanced animals such as salamanders.

In short, there are some good things cryonicists could do, but so far as I've
heard they have not yet been done (or completed).

			Best and long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson


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