X-Message-Number: 4384 Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 12:41:26 +1000 From: (Kitty te Riele) Subject: Harold Hillman The Australian university newspaper "Campus Review" had an article in their May 11-17 issue about "controversial British scientist" Harold Hillman. A few quotes: He asserts that "structures seen in cells under the electron microscope are little more than artefacts. On the grounds of solid geometry and intracellular movements visible in living cells, Hillman has concluded that structures such as endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, mitochondrial cristae, nuclear pores and the entire cytoskeleton, do not exist in living cells, but are merely the artefacts of common preparation techniques. Instead, he claims that up to 90 per cent of the brain is made up of a fine, granular material that is virtually liquid, which dominates the brain's [pathology, physiology & biochemistry] and allows cells to move around quickly". He also beliefs that the brain only has two cell types instead of four. ".. when you examine tissue under this [electron] microscope using certain techniques, the cells shrink horribly and don't look anything like they really are". Lacking the relevant background, I cannot evaluate his claims. One opponent is quoted as dismissing Hillman's views because "many alternative methods for exmaning cells using the electron microscope exist". Has anyone heard of Hillman? Could there be something to his views? What are the implications for cryonics? Kitty te Riele Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=4384