X-Message-Number: 7769
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: CryoNet #7753 - #7760
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1997 13:58:09 -0800 (PST)

Hi!

I am glad that some sanity on this issue of cloning has shown up on Cryonet.

And most certainly I agree that cloning bears no clear relationship to 
immortality at all. Whether telomeres relate to aging, that is a more open
question, though even after the A4M meeting in which several speakers claimed
a close relation, I found papers suggesting it was not quite so close as 
they believed.

ABOUT THE PROMISE OF REVIVAL: Reading the quote from Alcor's material
I see no promise that revival will become possible. I just see a statement
of obligation: that Alcor will TRY to revive its patients. That's fine with
me --- I don't think I can reasonably ask for more. But the words quoted
only say "attempt to revive". No organization has yet promised revival
itself.
 
FINALLY, about Visser's cryoprotectant: I believe that even Bob Ettinger
will admit that a high proportion of her attempts to freeze rat hearts simply
failed. If we want a good suspension, we'll also want much better rates of
success than Visser could provide. We want it particularly because it will
allay our own doubts about the success of our own suspension; and if Visser's
procedures were to be used for suspensions, they would cause even more doubts.
Sure, they might work for someone, but will they work on ME?

At some point we must choose where to put our resources for research. Quite
simply, until she has a fully reproducible process, she hasn't completed her
research. I think that issue should be foremost in all our minds. Furthermore,
I personally was put off by the hype about her methods. If she can make her
method work, then it will be time for us to reconsider. (Yes, there are
personal factors in this decision, I will not deny it). Right now I think
we have enough other tracks to follow that following hers should come last.

			Best and long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson


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