X-Message-Number: 6124
From:  (David L Evens)
Newsgroups: sci.cryonics
Subject: Re: Dehydration without shrinkage
Date: 28 Apr 1996 01:42:36 GMT
Message-ID: <4luiec$>
References: <>

Chris Benatar () wrote:
: In the April issue of Scientific American (p72) there is an article about
: insects preserved in amber. The following paragraph from the article
: seems of relevence:

: The sample contained exquisitely preserved cells, many with even the
: mitochondria intact. The tissues were dehydrated, yet they had ***not
: shrunk***, as one would expect with the water gone. The process by
: which resin "fixes" tissue, so that it retains its original size, is still a
: mystery.

: Perhaps if we could isolate the process or chemical involved in this we
: could have dehydration as a serious option. The only question then
: would be to do with toxicity.

: Any comments??

The biggest problem I see is reversibility, as (at least partially) the 
problem with all chemical types of preservation.  It's quite obvious how 
to reverse freezing, but how do we get the resin out and the water back 
in in such a way as to not destroy the tissue?

 ---------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
 Ring around the neutron,   |  "OK, so he's not terribly fearsome.
 A pocket full of positrons,|   But he certainly took us by surprise!"
 A fission, a fusion,       +-------------------------------------------------
 We all fall down!          |  "Was anybody in the Maqui working for me?"
 ---------------------------+-------------------------------------------------
 "I'd cut down ever Law in England to get at the Devil!"
 "And what man could stand up in the wind that would blow once you'd cut 
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