X-Message-Number: 6420
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Effects of brain vitrification on cryonics
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 12:46:21 -0700 (PDT)

Hi again!

I too believe vitrification of brains should have very high priority. However,
given Brian Wowk's comments about how this advance would increase the cryonics
community, I feel I should add a few numbers.

At the very largest estimate, there are now about 600 cryonicists signed up
with all the present societies. An order of magnitude increase means 6000
cryonicists. While that is indeed a large percentage increase (I would dream
that my investments might increase that much!) 6000 cryonicists in the ENTIRE

world are not likely to make much social impact. Yes, there are other 
minoritiesof that size --- but they are the minorities that are ignored, rather 
than 
those that can make any kind of public fuss.


As for the increased SCIENTIFIC interest (by NONCRYONICIST scientists), that too
isn't so clear. To us, the further steps of growing a new body for a preserved
brain (or otherwise providing such support) seem like trivia compared to those
involved in preserving and reviving a brain. To many others, that will be a 
major sticking point.

I do, however, most definitely agree that we should think about whether we
can raise much more money for research from among ourselves, and of course
6000 people can raise 10 times more money than 600.

			Best and long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson


Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6420