From: Doug Jones (random@qnet.com)
Date: Sun Jan 16 2000 - 22:11:50 MST
Technotranscendence wrote:
> I believe cryonics might work -- from suspension to revival -- now with
> fetuses.
You are mistaken.
Frozen embryos have been successfully propagated only if smaller than the
blastocyst stage, far from being a fetus, it is an undifferentiated blob of
cells. Best results are obtained with even younger embryos- see
http://www.advancedfertility.com/cryo.htm
"Embryos can be frozen at the pronuclear stage (one cell), or at any
stage after
that up to and including the blastocyst stage (5-7 days after
fertilization).
Different cryoprotectants are used for different stages of embryo
development.
Embryo survival rates after thawing and pregnancy rates in most IVF
programs
are highest for embryos that were frozen at the pronuclear stage, or at
the
2-cell to 4-cell stage."
> I don't see how, if this is so, most pro-Lifers wouldn't, at least, think of it
> as an alternative to abortion without suspension.
But it just ain't so, and the prospects for making it so are not good.
Raising this issue with anti-abortion activists will encourage them to
oppose cryonics as well. This would be counterproductive.
-- Doug Jones Rocket Plumber, XCOR Aerospace http://www.xcor-aerospace.com
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