X-Message-Number: 4992
From:  (Clark Jones)
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
Subject: Re: New formula for Freezing
Date: 14 Oct 1995 03:52:53 GMT
Message-ID: <45nc6l$>
References: <>

James Band () wrote:
[...]
: Until now there has success in reviving only 
: single cells which have been frozen, such as sperm or eggs.
[...]
: Any comments?

Well, the point about single cells isn't totally correct.  Freezing and
"reviving" of embryos up to at least 8 cells (both human and animal) is
fairly routine.  It's what makes "micromanipulation" a reasonable thing
to do - an egg (actually, several eggs) is (are) fertilized in vitro,
and allowed to develop until they divide to 8 or so cells.  Then a single
cell is "teased" out (of each embryo) and the rest of the embryo is
frozen.  The single cell is then "forced", causing it to multiply to
enough so that certain molecular-biological tests can be performed.
This allows detection of certain genetic diseases, and embryos that test
negative can then be thawed and implanted in the uterus using normal
in vitro fertilization techniques.

BTW, I'm aware of this because I have one of the genetic diseases which
can be detected this way.  (It causes a _very_ painful childhood.)

But the news presented in the article is definitely a step in the right
direction!

						Clark
--
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are mine and not those of Schlumberger
because they are NOT covered by the patent agreement!

Phone: (602) 345-3638        		Internet: 
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Snail: Clark Jones, Schlumberger Technologies, 7855 S. River Pkwy #116, Tempe,
       AZ  85284-1825


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