X-Message-Number: 7780
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 1997 01:26:32 -0800
From: Paul Wakfer <>
Subject: CryoSpan: DNA Storage & Cloning
DNA Storage
Even before the recent cloning news, there had been several
inquiries to CryoSpan concerning the possibility of storage of human or
animal tissue samples or other cells mainly for the purpose of capturing
and saving the DNA. For some time, I have been considering this,
possibly
the storage of placental blood, and the storage of those cryopreserved
embryo's which have been "abandoned" or are no longer wanted by their
biological progenitors.
Since CryoSpan is in the business of long-term cryogenic storage of
biological material, these are all areas of cryopreservation which might
increase business and allow the stability of scale economies and a
reasonable yearly income to be reached sooner than through remaining a
cryonics-only provider. On the other hand, all of CryoSpan's current
methods are geared to handling fairly large containers of cryopreserved
material and keeping it under liquid nitrogen indefinitely. We are not
geared to short-term or in-out storage, nor the introduction of new
storage material frequently and in tiny containers. Furthermore, the
principals of CryoSpan have little knowledge or expertise in medical or
cryobiological matters -- excellence in the cooling of biological
material from -79'C to -196'C its efficient long term storage requires
mostly good physics, engineering and business knowledge and experience.
Some weeks ago, however, I did confer with Mike Darwin concerning
the subject of cryopreservation and storage of DNA samples. CryoSpan
does
already maintain what, it hopes, are DNA containing materials from three
humans and one animal. I wish to stress here that these are *not*
counted
as cryonics patients, even though the only recoverable portion of some
of
our cryonics patients may turn out to be the DNA. Mike and I came up
with
the following plan which has not yet been implemented partly because it
relies on his very busy time to do it and partly because I have not yet
perceived sufficient demand to make it worthwhile.
I believe the following description of how things would work is
correct. I am sure that Mike Darwin will correct me in any details which
I have wrong. If this plan is developed and implemented, CryoSpan will
market for about $300 the following package:
1) Upon receipt of an order and $300 check, CryoSpan would ship a dry
ice
shipping container to the client containing a cold pack (water-ice
temperature), cryoprotectant, syringes, cryovials and instructions.
2) for males, the simplest method of providing a DNA sample will be from
semen (which consists of fluid containing nucleated cells, not just
sperm
which, of course, do *not* contain the complete DNA but only one half).
3) for females (or males who cannot, or do not wish to produce semen),
the simplest method would seem to be blood (which contains nucleated
white cells -- the red cells are not).
4) thus there would be two different container contents and the client
would specify one type or the other.
5) the client (with the help of her/his doctor in the case of a blood
sample) would follow the instructions, fill out the paper work, produce
the sample, mix in the cryopreservative, place the result into a bar
coded cryovial and seal it, place the sample into the shipping container
with dry ice and return ship it to CryoSpan for permanent storage.
6) CryoSpan will have to develop an efficient and foolproof identifying,
tracking, and storage system for these small specimens. Received
specimens will first be cooled appropriately to -196'C. They will then
probably be kept in smaller auxiliary dewars and transferred
periodically
to our larger permanent and more efficient storage dewars full racks at
a
time.
7) The fee charged will pay for the package described above, the cooling
of the sample to LN2 temperature (-196'C), and the perpetual safe
storage
of the sample at CryoSpan. Since the time of removal (or even the *fact*
of removal), and certainly the disposition of the sample on removal
cannot be determined at this time, I have decided not to charge for
removal and further processing as part of the initial fee.
8) In addition, there will be no capitalization (in a trust) by CryoSpan
of any part of the fee which pays for this storage. CryoSpan will use
the
funds to strengthen its business, and the client will simply have to
rely
on the contractual obligations of CryoSpan and the honor and good
business sense of its owners. If any cryonics organizations wish to take
part in this business, contract with CryoSpan for storage, and keep part
of the funds in trust making a yearly payment to CryoSpan, I would
certainly welcome that. However, I believe that the small size of the
individual funding units make this unreasonable and unlikely.
I ask all those who would be interested in DNA storage for
themselves and/or relatives to contact me by private email and let me
know the number of storage packages they would be willing to purchase at
the $300 level described above.
Cloning
While, as stated above, CryoSpan does have human and animal DNA
stored at its premises (besides its cryonics patients), it has no
obligations to the clients involved (who, in effect, are the owners of
the DNA and its holding material) to do anything but to release the
material to them for a small exit charge, upon their request. It is
entirely up to the particular clients involved whether and when they
wish
to do anything relating to a clone of the stored individual or animal.
Furthermore, I do not believe that would be correct for me to even
broach
the subject with these clients.
-- Paul --
CryoSpan, Inc. -low cost, secure cryogenic storage of biological
material
1313 N Market St. Suite 3410, Wilmington, DE 19801-1151
Email: Voice/Fax:909-481-4433
Pager:800-805-2870
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